Thanks Rob Manfred: World Series umpire Carlos Torres needed less than an inning to have MLB fans fuming
By Lior Lampert
Finally, the suspense is over and the moment MLB fans everywhere have been waiting for is upon us: The 2024 World Series. And somehow, not even an inning into Game 1, league commissioner Rob Manfred has found a way to spoil the momentous occasion.
Manfred couldn't have chosen a much worse umpire to work the plate for the series-opening contest between the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees. Of all the options at his disposal, he landed on Carlos Torres, a decision that quickly backfired.
Torres, 46, is making his Fall Classic debut. Based on how the beginning stages of the match were officiated, that became abundantly clear. He made several objectively bad calls, catching the attention of viewers tuning into Game 1 of the Yankees-Dodgers showdown.
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Rob Manfred's decision to deploy umpire Carlos Torres for World Series Game 1 has MLB fans everywhere irate
Not even a full inning into this game, and it is clear as day that Carlos Torres is going to have these pitchers and hitters in shambles tonight.
— . (@BrandonBerasain) October 26, 2024
Already displaying a horrible strike-zone for both the pitchers and hitters.. not what you want to see in the World Series
One user was astonished at how bad Torres' strike zone was, and the Yankees and Dodgers didn't get through two frames. Amazingly enough, neither club benefitted, foreshadowing what could be a long night for batters and pitchers.
Carlos Torres already a half inning in has missed 6 calls already. Just can’t happen in the World Series
— Todd Frazier (@FlavaFraz21) October 26, 2024
Retired major league third baseman Todd Frazier counted six missed calls by Torres early in Game 1. He mentions how mistakes like this "can't happen," especially in the World Series. Given what's at stake, it's hard to fault him for feeling this way.
That’s a horrible first inning from Carlos Torres. At least two at-bat changing calls that were clearly wrong. It’s the World Series, man.
— Matt (@BelowAverageOPS) October 26, 2024
As this spectator notes, Torres' "horrible" first inning included at minimum two "at-bat changing calls," which were blatantly incorrect. The home plate umpire's ball/strike judgment has been questionable (at best) thus far, costing the Yankees a chance to draw first blood.
I mean, that was a BRUTAL first inning from Carlos Torres. Oh my goodness, how did Rob Manfred let this happen?
— Manny Rodríguez (@ERodriguezRadio) October 26, 2024
Good question. We're wondering the same thing, considering Torres has been dreadful. We're all trying to find the guy who did this, right Manfred?
If there's any silver lining to Torres' first-inning woes, the umping can't get any worse -- or so we hope.
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