José Altuve is one of the more mild-mannered players in today’s game. So, it takes something completely out of the ordinary to set off the Astros second baseman. The missed call in Sunday’s game against the Mets certainly did just that.
With Altuve batting in the seventh inning, an apparent foul ball off his foot was ruled in play as an inning-ending ground ball to third. Replays would show the ball hitting Altuve’s cleat, and we could also see Altuve’s reaction in real time. It hurt, and he knew the ball hit him. But the play isn’t reviewable under MLB replay guidelines, so Altuve had to hope that one of the other umpires on the field saw what happened.
When the crew conferred and stood by the “fair ball” call, Altuve completely lost it.
In his first MLB game behind the plate, umpire James Jean called a fair ball and an inning ending out on a ball Jose Altuve batted off his foot.
All 4 umpires conferred, but they upheld the call.
This call was not reviewable.
When Altuve argued, Jean ejected him. pic.twitter.com/ALoDWLLYeg
— Umpire Auditor (@UmpireAuditor) July 1, 2024
Altuve spiked his bat and was almost immediately ejected — just the second ejection of his MLB career. And while this was umpire James Jean’s first game behind the plate in MLB, you would have hoped that someone else in the crew got a look at the play.
The Astros second baseman raised that point to reporters after the game. He said via the New York Post:
“They didn’t see it,” Altuve told reporters after Houston won the series.
“I understand the guy behind the plate didn’t see it because the catcher’s there. But you have another three guys — first, second and third. I felt like it was kind of obvious. That’s why I was so mad.”
Houston ended up winning the game and taking the series from the red-hot Mets. Still, that missed call and ejection never should have happened.
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