These umpires nowadays are out of control. I don’t know if it’s a lack of eye care in their contracts, or just a personal vendetta against humans who are way more athletically gifted than them; but these folks behind the plate have been having a TOUGH TIME getting calls right this season.

They have been a nuisance to the game of baseball, and that was certainly the case in Detroit when Home Plate Umpire Derek Thomas rang up Cubs’ 2B Nico Hoerner on this EGREGIOUS strike three call at the knees.

Craig Counsell and Nico Hoerner have been ejected from today’s game. pic.twitter.com/uF71E9ajWH

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) June 8, 2025

What an absolute disgrace of a call! The fact that this man, who has a rather decent resumé mind you, thought that THAT was a strike? It’s just appalling to me! It’s one of those situations where you watch it back over and over again, and you think to yourself; “I could’ve made a better call than that.” That ball couldn’t have been any more down and inside. If it was, then Nico would’ve probably been keeled over in pain by the end of it.

It’s just insane! The worst part about it though? It had to be the fact that Nico (who hardly ever gets mad at umps) was tossed with Usain Bolt-like quickness as soon as he opened his mouth. It was as if Thomas went on a “power trip” in that split second, and said; “I don’t want to hear from you. BE GONE!” He didn’t even give the Cubs’ second baseman a chance to plead his case.

Personally, I HATE the fact that umps can have that much power. Sure, they need to be able to command the game. Sure, they should be able to have “order” on any given day. But to make a GOD-AWFUL call like that, and then send a guy packing because you don’t want to deal with the backlash? That’s sickening in itself.

I hate the idea of robot umps, and the thought of creating more of a “technological” environment in the game of baseball. But DWEEBS like this make it hard to not hate the idea. It would be a tough pill to swallow, because I do enjoy the occasional argument/ejection from managers every now and again. But if the flip-side is that we need to sit through terrible officiating like THIS? Then sign me up for the bots!

In the end though, as always…..what do I know? I’m just a guy from the Midwest, with a beer and a laptop, trying to make sense of this world.