Mariners' Crawford wants more umpire accountability: 'Those calls can't happen'
Seattle Mariners shortstop J.P. Crawford believes it's time for Major League Baseball umpires to face more accountability for missed calls.
After getting rung up on a questionable strike three call by home plate umpire C.B. Bucknor during Tuesday's 4-0 loss to the Houston Astros, Crawford showed his displeasure.
J.P. Crawford voices frustration with CB Bucknor after this called strikeout here in the 5th inning ... A lot of dialogue coming from the dugout, too: pic.twitter.com/DRF9Pnkeq0
— Daniel Kramer (@DKramer_) May 4, 2022
Following the game, Crawford explained his reaction and said he believes that players and umpires are held to different standards.
"You never try to show anyone up like that, but those calls can't happen," Crawford said, according to The Seattle Times' Ryan Divish. "We get penalized if we don't play well. Umpires, if they don't do well, they sleep fine. Their jobs are secure. They don't get penalized for nothing. I think that's stupid. I feel like if they would get penalized for everything, they would call up much better games."
Crawford added: "It just puts you in (an) angry spot the rest of the game. You try to do something different offensively because every call is questionable. So it takes you out of your game a little bit."
This marks the second time in as many weeks that the Mariners voiced their displeasure with umpiring. Seattle sent a letter to the league protesting the treatment of prized rookie outfielder Julio Rodriguez, who had been leading the league in called third strikes.