Umpire's Count Blunder in MLB's New System

0:00On April 1st, Major League Baseball's new automatic ball strike system has umpires under a microscope this season. In a recent Astros Red Sox matchup, third base UMP, Mark Wagner, straight up lost track of the pitch count during a wild 5th inning at Batweth. Houston's Cam Smith facing Boston starter, Brian Bello. Smith swung and missed the first two pitches, putting the count as zero balls and two strikes amid chaos on the bases, runner stealing, bat throws. Even a bobble at home plate. Fans figured the at bat was done, but Wagner did not call it and nobody on the field piped up to challenge. Viewers at home were baffled as Smith kept batting with Bello and catcher Connor Wong seemingly clueless too. No reviews happened. Turning was should have been a quick out into a drawn out sequence that had everyone scratching their heads. The at bat dragged to nine pitches before Smith walked, knocking Bello out in his first big league start of 2026. Afterward, Wagner owned up in a pool report saying he blanked on the count and a challenge would have fixed it via replay.

1:05Astros crews to a nine to two win, but this gaff amps up the heat on UMPs already facing tech-driven scrutiny. Proving even simple counts can trip them up in the heat of battle. That wraps Boston Red Sox news today brought to you with AI. I'm Cory with the story.