Cardinals fans blame CB Bucknor for latest loss to Reds
By Mark Powell
The St. Louis Cardinals dropped Friday night’s game against the Cincinnati Reds with second place in the NL Central in sight.
The Cardinals were just a half-game back of the Reds for second in the NL Central heading into the night. It also gave them an opportunity to jump the Reds in the NL Wild Card standings.
It’s been a tough season for St. Louis, which is looking for pitching help both without Jack Flaherty healthy and to carry them into 2022 and beyond. The Cardinals’ rotation depth has been tested this season, and they’ve failed miserably.
On Friday, with Wade LeBlanc on the mound, it was more of the same. LeBlanc made it just four innings, and gave up eight hits and three runs. It wasn’t an awful outing, mainly because Mike Shildt pulled LeBlanc before it had an opportunity to get out of hand.
Cardinals fans blame home plate umpire CB Bucknor for loss to Reds
Despite many factors that played into the loss to Cincinnati, most notably bad pitching, Cardinals fans blamed Bucknor primarily for the defeat.
CB Bucknor absolutely took the bats straight out of the Cardinals hands tonight.
— worst team in nl (@CardinalsRant_) July 24, 2021
He’s not to blame for the loss, but the Cardinals were handcuffed by his ridiculous zone. He needs to go.
The outside pitches called for strikes completely ruin #STLCards batters’ approaches
— STL Sports Central (@stlsportscntrl) July 24, 2021
If pitches inches off the plate are called strikes they’re forced to fight off bad pitches that are usually called balls. It completely ruins at bats
CB Bucknor<<< pic.twitter.com/8hPl7wAfpw
CB Bucknor must have terrible eyesight. Lots of outside balls being called strikes. #STLCards
— Brad Choat (@choatsnews) July 24, 2021
Thought maybe this would go to CB Bucknor pic.twitter.com/3AzV6jvhs2
— Benjamin Hochman (@hochman) July 24, 2021
CB Bucknor tonight #STLFLY pic.twitter.com/3fFD5tDQyZ
— eddie green (@eddiegreen82) July 24, 2021
CB Bucknor’s strike zone been this bad all night?
— stlCupofJoe (@stlCupofJoe) July 24, 2021
CB BUCKNOR TO A DIFFERENT UNIVERSE
— worst team in nl (@CardinalsRant_) July 24, 2021
As much as the Cardinals suck, it is important to remember that the Cardinals absolutely would ave won if CB Bucknor had enforced the rules.
— Justin Striebel (@jstriebel22) July 24, 2021
How does CB Bucknor still get to umpire MLB games? Dude is a joke.
— They Don't Know (@justified2008) July 24, 2021
There were many, many more.
Cardinals fans have a decent point, as there were several controversial calls that extended at-bats in critical moments.
However, St. Louis has had far too many excuses so far this season. A team this talented shouldn’t be on the outside looking in at the playoff picture, period.
Next. Mike Shildt flips his lid on umpire Jeff Nelson for awful strike call (Video). dark