Ejections 013-14 - John Libka Ejects NYM Pitcher Taijuan Walker & Manager Luis Rojas 2 Innings Apart

[@reinaldo_vega]

John Libka is almost a robot ump calling balls-strikes. Is the umpire with the best report game by game since 2018.

[@hunterbusken3638]

I just watched a jomboy video breaking down a game where he had 99 percent accuracy

[@jesseengland5967]

I mean just watching the highlights here is impressive. If i was one of the batters or the pitcher i wouldn't complain... Dude knows what he's doing.

[@Subangelis]

Yeah, assuming the strike zone graphic is accurate, he only missed one call of Walker's pitching, and that only barely caught the zone at the hardest part of it for the ump to call accurately.

[@jamesmartano6604]

This man libka is such a good umpire it’s insane

[@denniswilkerson5536]

Why are they giving him so much shit? His calls in this game were pitch perfect.

[@vincentwendt720]

I agree. I would be happy to have this guy umpire a game that I was playing in. In my opinion, those ejection are 100% warranted.

[@johnleonard6878]

Plate umpire did a very good job, very consistent zone

[@8nvibin454]

As per usual

[@hzdebun5223]

hes one of the best in the league in my opinion

[@Noah11442]

@@hzdebun5223 Absolutely he’s one of the best in the game look at his star reports even Josh Donaldson was amazed how compared to Angel Hernandez he only had one controversy call that wasn’t even controversial the whole game now that is a good umpire and he’s definitely earned his spot in the World Series crew

[@cuppajoe2]

This guy is known for being one of the best plate umps.

[@cuppajoe2]

@wonderfulworldofgames dude this guy has some of the best calls.

[@Ickity]

Arguing with Libka just makes these guys look really stupid almost every time. The guy is a machine.

[@jeffpapas4602]

Looks like some pretty good work behind the dish to me.

[@kennethperez2882]

You must be a Cubs fan.

[@crazy_squid6236]

Yeah, links only called one pitch in the zone a ball on one of those at-bats

[@slaymyface1357]

@@kennethperez2882 look up john libkas umpire cards every night, he is the most accurate umpire sinde 2018. Cry some more

[@ballybunion9]

I'm a Mets fan and it looks to me like the home plate umpire is doing a good job.

[@TheEpicShadowGaming]

Dudes probably one of the most consistent umps in the league. He almost had a perfect game except for one call

[@yyw642]

@wonderfulworldofgames bs for calling a pitch outside the zone a ball? You’re the troll here lmao

[@WithoutAnyChances]

@wonderfulworldofgames Libka is probably the best ump in MLB right now.

[@popthetrunkk6500]

He gave them the low call but not us you douche

[@jakegeater]

@@popthetrunkk6500 he can’t be perfect how bout you become an ump and not have the rectangle zone on the tv

[@DZegers13]

Great umpiring. Several pitches just outside zone and a handful right on the line according to the strike zone box on the screen and he got 100% right from what I see

[@andreymalov9602]

Great zone by John and nice game management too! He really gave them a long leash before sending them away. And what a job by Old Joe! Motive how he's always positioning himself between the player or manager and John to prevent further arguing. That's class and experience

[@cooperroberts7413]

Libka was very consistent. Gave the stop sign, they ran it, see ya later.

[@jamiethornton6101]

If you're all over the place as a pitcher and your control is awful, don't be mad when you don't get borderline calls that could go either way. Simple.

[@TCO1216]

all over the place?

[@alanhess9306]

@@TCO1216Yes, all over the place. Did you watch the video?

[@URAWESOME94]

Watched this live. Plate umpire was actually very good. Pitcher was having a terrible night and as it often goes, decided to take his frustration out on the official. Even after he was taken out of the game for his poor performance.

[@aprammus9580]

@wonderfulworldofgames no he’s right

[@ocifer]

We don’t need robo umps, we need more John Libkas

[@rickhaavisto9023]

Daniel Deering Well, when you have videos of fans and players assaulting referees, verbally harassing or digitally stalking officials after games...the pool of potential will greatly decrease

[@hunterritter729]

Is he the ump that had a near perfect game in stl? I think he missed one pitch the whole game lol

[@kmart2169]

Really am shocked how well Libka got the pitch that was low correct then the very next pitch was just slightly higher enough to clip the bottom of zone, that takes some great precision.

[@NYCShoeShine]

I'm a Met fan, and John had a consistent strike zone. He did an excellent job. Even on the replays you can see they were balls and not strikes.

[@NYCShoeShine]

@Alo Warbay Right but that was just one. It can't be 100% all the time, but it was consistent. I just saw a Yankee vs Blue Jays highlight that the Umpiring was just criminal.

[@devenshah5249]

I think the stealing review was wrong. He went off the bag for a split second

[@devenshah5249]

Also the one where Pete Alonso caught the ball that was Hugh should’ve been called out in my opinion

[@markgriffin2087]

@@NYCShoeShine what do you mean that umpire fucked us all night I wanted Tijuan to throw a FB at the umpire chin so he could put some sense into that guy

[@mbdg6810]

@Alo Warbay I'm pretty sure thats exactly what rojas saw and was complaining about

[@joeycameron4744]

The ump had a fair and consistent zone. I think part of the problem is the catchers are yanking these balls way back into the strike zone rather than framing it right where they caught it. I think that gives the pitcher a little bit of a false sense of where the pitch was.

[@javtimestwo]

thank you and well said. the catcher is yanking the ball so far that if I am an umpire, I would take that as a suggestion the ball missed and the catcher is trying to, "steal" a strike.

[@billbell2311]

@@javtimestwo If the catcher thinks the pitch was low or outside and pulls his mitt back into the zone, who am I to disagree with him? Stick the pitch and let me call it. Move your mitt around and you probably won't get that call.

[@donaldthomas7070]

I saw that once or twice too. If the catcher has to move his mitt around to catch the ball, the pitch obviously didn't go where he expected it to.

[@DavidGarvinTechnophile]

John Libka has a very accurate strike/ball call ratio.

[@slaymyface1357]

Of his 29 games this year ue had a acdurate score of 95% or more in 16 games, the next lowests per game is jeremie rehak with 28 games with 13 games above 95%, Libka has a 55.2% of being qccurate of 95% or more Rehak has a 46.4% of being accurate 95% or more He is the best ump in the game, and has been since 2018

[@FactsMatter]

@4:15 "I gave him a chance to go. I gave you a chance to tell him to go."

[@keithmiath]

Catchers are part of the issue with the strike zone. Moving the glove to “bring” the ball into the zone gives the impression you don’t think it was a strike. Stick the pitch.

[@Dannyrockz10]

Not going to lie. Jomboy brought me here.

[@jballday3668]

This is the third straight series the mets had joe west as an umpire

[@movinsmooth9248]

"3 consecutive walks by Walker" *no fucking surprise*

[@aprammus9580]

Didn’t this guy have a perfect game besides one pitch a couple days ago?

[@jakegeater]

and the one pitch clipped the zone

[@jakegeater]

it’s amazing how good libka is, and he knows he’s good but doesn’t act like hot stuff.

[@mbdg6810]

definitely the one ball location for walker was called strike 3 for conforto, but other than that I didn't see much

[@oliverbrubacher9608]

I mean he called it consistent throughout the game so i don't know why Rojas mad

[@vincentwendt720]

I don't understand what the problem is. Not only was he consistent, he was consistent AND accurate. That strike three call at the end was higher than the rest of the low pitches he was calling a ball. What more can you ask from an umpire.

[@kylem4622]

Great umpiring I Like him he's got promise for REAL

[@devilquill]

Players argue with umpires when they are wrong, but they also argue when the umpires are right.

[@joshbattista7049]

Man, what a great job John did, my goodness. Very consistent strikezone, i think best I've seen so far.

[@TR-yi8up]

Have to agree, based on this sample. Even if your zone sucks, be consistent. His looks solid all the way around. Not familiar with him, but I’m guessing he will be around a while

[@aprammus9580]

@@TR-yi8up he had a 99% accuracy game where he only missed one pitch a couple days ago. Jomboy did a breakdown on it if you wanna see it

[@TeemoQuinton]

"The Umpiring rooms are not going to change unless they see real evidence" Yes that is how replay works in literally every sport

[@TheCpadron19]

I'm not sure what they were expecting either. You can clearly see he's safe, and never lost contact with the bag lmao. Not sure how they thought he was out when they're literally watching the replay in super slowmo.

[@TheCpadron19]

Lol, what a great job blue, you ejected the guy who just got pulled. So instead of having to sit and watch his runs come in to score, he gets to chill in the clubhouse. What a dumbass umpire. His strike zone was fine, but you gotta know that not ejecting him, and making him watch his era go up would have been a better punishment.

[@Subangelis]

@@TheCpadron19 So, you don't want the ump to follow the rules? There's more to it than where they get to watch the game. Being in the clubhouse, the umps won't be subjected to further altercations of him running his mouth. Depending on the report, he can also face fines and/or suspension. Him sitting in the clubhouse will help prevent that from happening. Look, rules are rules. It doesn't matter if you're in the game or not, you can't argue balls and strikes. How many coaches and trainers that hardly come out onto the field get ejected for arguing balls an strikes?

[@alanhess9306]

@@TheCpadron19 There will be a fine. The ump wasn't a dumbass, he was doing his job. You appear to be the dumbass.

[@michaelhogg324]

John had a FANTASTIC zone tonight!

[@gforce97]

I had no idea Arrieta returned to the Cubs lol

[@SidEffecT883]

That’s news to a lot of people I think. I had no idea either

[@gavinvelicevic1907]

You would swear that pitches just thing that the umpires don’t like them, and that they don’t want to give them any calls, when yet they umpires have just a perfect game.

[@Ghostrider6A]

How many games does Joe have left to break the record? The crew might want to start thinking about rotating to allow him to have the plate for the record breaker.

[@CloseCallSports]

Check out our Joe West Tracker in the upper right corner of the website! www.closecallsports.com/ We update it every day!

[@Bbeaucha88]

I feel as though we need to somehow thank Angel Hernandez for being such a terrible ump that the universe felt it necessary to balance the game out by giving us John Libka

[@TheCpadron19]

Announcer: That call is going to give the Cubs a run. Me: Well, seeing as he was safe, and the replay even showed it, I'd say the stolen base was what gave the Cubs a run, not the call. Literally nothing in that instant replay pointed to him being out. His hand got in before the tag, and his left hand grabbed the bag at the same time his right one came off. Not sure how you think he's out there. Honestly some announcers should try to hide their bias a little better. I get they're supposed to be on their team's side, but come on now.

[@cuppajoe2]

Never argue with libka. You will just embarrass urself.

[@cinnamontea1]

He needs to change his name to striker

[@devinbrown1775]

The rookie umpire was consistent on the strike zone. Pitcher and manager of the Mets deserved to be toss.

[@critter2]

not very patient good lord do these announcers even hear themselves

[@Ray3645]

Libka's judgment is astonishingly good.

[@megamegapop12]

Why does Joe West find a way to insert himself into every situation

[@peteywheatstraw3583]

probably due to gravitational attraction.

[@bgdg323]

Because he's the crew chief.

[@Subangelis]

It's his job as crew chief

[@zipcity6720]

Goes to show that no matter how good a game you call you can still catch grief. Walker really looks bad here, totally lacking in composure.

[@trhouston9960]

Does any body else want to get rid of replay if there are not going to get the call right anyways

[@familysmith6758]

Ump had the correct call on all of these pitches. Catcher has way too much movement trying to frame these pitches. Might have got a few more strikes if catcher had less glove movement

[@seabrook1976]

Ump wasn't squeezing him. Dude couldn't find the plate with a map.

[@jamesrivera6068]

Great job by the plate Umpire. NYM Manager was wrong ad they usually are. This is why ejections need to come with automatic suspensions.

[@chefafterdark]

lol do you even watch baseball

[@mbdg6810]

A lot of manager's are justified. As a met fan I only saw one thing that rojas was probably pointing out (which was ball 4 location for walkers last batter was called strike 3 for conforto.) That is definitely not enough to argue

[@stephanewillier9956]

Some of these pitcher need to go back and watch this tape and realize how wrong they were to question john

[@bobbobers5322]

Libka is one of the best umps in the MLB

[@nickbachman663]

Here after the Jomboy video.

[@aprammus9580]

Me to!

[@bradt7451]

I can’t help but note the brutal receiving by the catchers. You’re pulling pitches that are borderline strikes at the knee or lower all the way up to the middle of the zone. Contreras is a horsesh1t receiver...as bad or worse than Grandal and Sanchez. The Mets catcher is pulling pitches off the plate acting like he’s going to steal strikes and all he’s doing is pissing off the pitcher more. Libka had great game management.

[@rohdecostello4767]

You just called Grandal bad framer

[@bradt7451]

@@rohdecostello4767 I called Grandal a bad receiver.

[@bradt7451]

@@rohdecostello4767 framing is the dumbest part of catching because it does nothing

[@alanhess9306]

@@bradt7451 It does a lot actually. Proper framing makes a borderline pitch look like a strike. Bad framing like dragging the pitch makes a borderline pitch look like a ball.

[@jaredborg8282]

I’m a Mets fan and libka was great

[@teddyj5187]

Heyward was out tag was on as he lost contact with the base. Simply a game where umps hosed the Mets in favor of the Cubs. Only a bad ball player doesn't swing at a close pitch with 2 strikes.

[@sharksoup8779]

We need Libka to ump the World Series

[@TintagelEmrys]

I mean, what did you expect from someone called "walker"?

[@slaymyface1357]

How you gonna argue agains the liteeally statistical best umpire in the leagues, misses like 4 calls all night, compared to like the 200mpitches most umpires miss

[@stem50]

Arguing Balls and Strikes as a ML Pitcher is a NO NO PERIOD .

[@mbdg6810]

Its a no no but that doesn't mean umps can't have bad calls consistently in a game. This was not one of those cases but you seem to forget they happen

[@stem50]

@@mbdg6810 Cry Me a River.........

[@mbdg6810]

@@stem50 lol i’m not upset on any level

[@garylee3229]

This instance the umpire was right on every call

[@jacksmith5692]

Why can't these Umps handle an argument today. They always need another guy to step in like here Joe West.

[@alanhess9306]

It's his job as the crew chief to break it up and move the game along. you know nothing about how umpiring works.

[@ScallopHolden]

Lived up to his name

[@demon678]

Good ejection. He told Rojas to stop, he didn't stop. Same with Walker, clear he was gonna keep jawing till he got tossed as well.

[@mbdg6810]

walker was already out

[@Subangelis]

@@mbdg6810 - There's a difference to being pulled out of a game and being ejected. And there's more to it than where they get to watch the game. Being in the clubhouse, the umps won't be subjected to further altercations of him running his mouth. Depending on the report, he can also face fines and/or suspension. Him sitting in the clubhouse will help prevent that from happening. Look, rules are rules. It doesn't matter if you're in the game or not, you can't argue balls and strikes. How many coaches and trainers that hardly come out onto the field get ejected for arguing balls an strikes?

[@alanhess9306]

@@mbdg6810 Now he will be fined.

[@leaveleague3491]

this dude is not human

[@getreal1175]

Catcher didn't do him any favors by yanking those pitches up - but a good zone!

[@mbdg6810]

yeah. Definitely not going to get strike calls that way

[@jfchonors8873]

I think Libka called a good strike zone and I’m a fan of the Mets. Here’s a question though - why not turn towards third base and ignore a frustrated Walker as he’s out of the game already ?

[@Subangelis]

Because: A. It's not his job. B. He has to be aware of EVERYTHING that happens on the field, including possible rule violations from a player that has been removed. C. Most players would take offence if he did so.

[@tigersfan14]

Is Libka a call-up or did he recently get promoted? I don't see John on the permanent crew roster.

[@CloseCallSports]

He's still a call-up.

[@tigersfan14]

@@CloseCallSports Hope he gets a permanent spot soon. One of the most accurate umpires at the plate.

[@RedFenril]

@@CloseCallSports After this performance he needs a permanent spot on the umpire roster. That's consistency.

[@misse4225]

Not anymore as of Feb. 4, 2022. He’s been promoted!

[@Torontotootwo]

Walker was ejected for being a big mouth, not for getting a bad call.

[@TheBoardandThebord]

John Libka is a great ump

[@kylesanders5999]

the commissioner has ruined baseball. replay is a fucking joke and not be able to argue balls and strikes is a fucking joke. Both pitchers though were the right call.

[@mikek6658]

Libka was good. Walker stinks

[@joshanmarcusyuanregencia345]

Walker would be a horrible umpire

[@marchbriner3603]

0:37 You looked

[@jasontapia1032]

Hit the road jack

[@yorkballer1]

2:52 😬

[@yyw642]

Y’all salty Mets fan shouldn’t be shitting on Libka he one of the best. Show your favoritism when Jeff Nelson is truly fucking over DeGrom😂😂

[@drewz9807]

There was MAYBE one pitch that was arguable. The ump had a very precise strike zone and was consistent with calls. Also, how can u be mad about walking guys when your name is Walker?

[@javtimestwo]

The Mets 🤦🏾‍♂️

[@zach6806]

Nothing really egregious by the ump

[@paulsiegel2915]

arguing with the masks on not quite as dramatic

[@johncole273]

Get out here

[@WhereMyChicken]

Will Joe West ever stop touching players?

[@alanhess9306]

Will you ever learn that it is the crew chief's job to break up the discussion and move the game along?

[@WhereMyChicken]

@@alanhess9306 And that means putting his hands on players I guess huh?

[@alanhess9306]

@@WhereMyChicken Yes, if he needs to "assist" the manager off the field. There's nothing wrong with what he did.

[@GaIeforce]

Why am I not surprised it's the Joe West crew? lol

[@jametz66]

the ejections had NOTHING to do with the umpiring. Dead on last night

[@robbrown6934]

Wearing mask because its cold.

[@hojcukomamikgiq6350]

The toothsome minister genotypically spill because skin rarely need than a eight decimal. steadfast, spotless shade

[@joeg5414]

420

[@ericrosenthal7055]

John was consistent with both teams all night. Why have replay? Wrong call on the Fowler stolen base. Clearly his left hand was not on the base and Lindor still applied the tag. Then later in the game, Bruce called Rizzo safe when he didn't even touch first base and Alonzo had his foot on the bag. This kind of failures by MLB is soiling the game for the fans and players alike.

[@bradt7451]

Replay is ruining sports and I love seeing the debacle.

[@CastlegarGlenn]

Replay isn't the problem, it's the umpires who appear to be actively sabotaging the replay system.

[@bradt7451]

@@CastlegarGlenn whatever the reason I’m enjoying the hell out of it. Rob Manfred is a POS so anything bad that happens on his watch is glorious. Replay in sports is stupid.

[@rickhaavisto9023]

Glenn R Go ahead and provide a shred of evidence that what you said is happening...

[@elshpen]

Just think, you could have cut about 66% of this video and it would have been just fine.

[@JoeB22333]

No. The context is helpful. Take your Ritalin

[@elshpen]

@@JoeB22333 A two minute ejection does not require 5 1/2 minutes of "context."

[@JoeB22333]

@@elshpen context matters if you want to graduate high school