The Pittsburgh Pirates had some major issues with the umpiring during their three-game series sweep at the hands of the Tampa Bay Rays and veteran outfielder Andrew McCutchen voiced his displeasure following Thursday's 3-2 loss.
"Is there any accountability on that end? Over the years, I don't think so," said McCutchen, via the Post Gazette's Jason Mackey. "What can you do?"
He went on to say that Thursday's contest felt like a game the Pirates were not supposed to win, before adding, "It felt one-sided today. You don't ever want to feel like that when you're out there, but today just didn't feel like it was a game that was supposed to be won by us."
McCutchen also sent this Tweet following the game.
On Thursday, the Pirates' issues revolved around the strike zone, as they struck out seven times -- including five on called strikes. Several of those called third strikes appeared to be well out of the strike zone.
Had it been a one game thing, the Pirates might have been more willing to let it slide. But they had issues with the umpires in all three games of the series. During Tuesday's game, the Pirates were livid over a non-balk call they cost them a run and how the umpires were managing the pitch clock. And on Wednesday, manager Derek Shelton was ejected after getting into it with two different umpires (again regarding the pitch clock).
With increased technology to measure the strike zone umpires are coming under more and more criticism for missed calls and they do not always take that criticism kindly. Their fuses with managers and players increasingly seem shorter and they have had a tendency to take over games and insert themselves into the action in recent years. The Pirates clearly thought that was happening in this series.
On the diamond, itself, the Pirates entered their series against the Rays with the best record in the National League at 20-9, but have now lost four consecutive games.
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