Detroit Tigers first baseman Spencer Torkelson tested the very limits of what a player can say to an umpire Monday night.
Somehow, he did not get ejected.
Torkelson had a chance to be a hero in the seventh inning against the Kansas City Royals. Detroit trailed by one run but had two men on base.
Torkelson worked the count to 2-2 against Royals reliever Taylor Clarke, then he took a called third strike.
The pitch, low and away, was definitely borderline but appeared to be a strike. Torkelson immediately turned to home plate umpire Will Little and yelled, “Oh my ******* god.”
As he walked away, Torkelson shouted, “The **** are you looking at?”
Warning: This video is absolutely NSFW.
Players have certainly been ejected for far less than that outburst. Some fans felt Torkelson had a good point to argue, although they thought he should have toned down the language.
Ump should be fired . That’s inexcusable
— Rylan Skye (@RylanSkye) June 20, 2023
That one was actually halfway close. The ones that really tick me off are 6″ out, which there has been plenty of this year.
— Stein Carlson (@CarlsonStein) June 20, 2023
At the knees on the outside corner. Strike 10 times out of 10. I am one of the world’s biggest umpire critics and even I will tell you that is the correct call.
— Garrett Mitchell (@DruffLegend85) June 20, 2023
I was wondering why AJ Hinch didn’t go out and walk him off the field so he wouldn’t get tossed.
— Gareth Ridings (@GarethRidi63699) June 20, 2023
Everyone wants a computerized strike zone. But even when the computer shows the ump got it right they still complain that the computer got it wrong.
— Christopher Wright (@ctmwright) June 20, 2023
As a former catcher, that’s when you know your frame was good lol
Borderline? Yeah. Too close to take? Absolutely.
— Gaijin Baseball/外国人野球 (@GaijinBaseball) June 20, 2023