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As the Dodgers’ offense failed against the Blue Jays in Game 5, concern hit a nerve when Max Muncy showed his frustration over a debatable strike call. The focus was on Jordan Baker, the first base umpire, with questionable calls throughout. FOX Sports perfectly summed up the scene as: “Max Muncy was not pleased with that strike call.” A quick flashback to the calls that made Muncy mad, and ultimately led to his raging comments. The most debatable scene occurred when Muncy took a pitch in the dirt, which was ruled strike three, a call that would have put him on base and probably tied the game 2-2 after Kike Hernandez’s earlier homer. The situation got even more critical when Baker ruled out Alex Call on a check swing. For many fans, that call was inconsistent with a similar non-call on Davis Schneider. That only deepened the narrative that the strike zone had supported the Jays at such a critical juncture. As the game moved forward, cameras captured Muncy shaking his head and muttering. His body language showed the tension that clouded Dodger Stadium. All of these Game 5 sequences drew parallels to past complaints about the umpire’s inconsistency. For instance, Umpire Scorecards on June 7, 2025, reported that Baker called 132 of 149 pitches correctly, which is 88.6 percent. At that time, it was the 15th-worst performance of any umpire this season. Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports Now, after the Dodgers’ 6-1 loss to the Jays, Max Muncy did not hide his anger. He turned the attention toward the Jays starter and remarked, “He (Trey Yesavage) was throwing all the balls wherever he wanted… There was nothing we could gain from.” But undoubtedly, Yesavage was dominant throughout the game. Meanwhile, the debatable umpiring had hit the Dodgers at the worst time. Now, as LA is getting ready for their do-or-die showdown in Canada, the clubhouse mood is a blend of defiance and regret. “It’s annoying, but I’m glad I have a day off,” Max Muncy pointed out that the team needs a regrouping. “We have to move forward by winning one of the remaining matches,” he added. Linking to Max Muncy’s anger, the outrage quickly reached beyond the field. Now, the Dodgers fans are targeting the umpire for his questionable call. Dodgers fans explode as umpire Jordan Baker faces intense backlash “Yesavage is absolutely amazing, but this first base umpire sucks,” one fan commented. Trey Yesavage’s 12-strikeout and no-walk WS history deserves every bit of applause. But fans also felt that his dominance was overshadowed by questionable umpiring. The conversation shifted from talent to fairness on baseball’s biggest stage. The anger felt boiling when another fan wrote, “Is the 1st base umpire for today’s game Canadian? Or is he taking bribes(?_?).” It reflected what many fans doubted when a call favored Toronto. And the frustration is not just limited to the Dodgers loyalists. The baseball world noted how the strike zone and check-swing calls looked a bit inclined in favor of the Jays. So, discussions about the accountability of the umpire during such a high-stakes postseason game went on. “No way that was a swing — that first base umpire needs to be removed or given glasses #TORvsLAD,” another fan posted. The check-swing controversy in the 5th inning, where Alex’s call was ruled out despite minimal movement, became the flashpoint of the night. Multiple replays showed that the bat barely left the shoulder line, still Baker’s aggressive call halted LA’s rally. Within minutes, the hashtag #TORvsLAD trended nationwide. Another Dodger fan added, “Umps have been favoring the Blue Jays.” This was not the first time Baker had been criticized for perceived bias toward Tonoto. Early June, during a Blue Jays-Twins matchup, he went through similar accusations following multiple calls that ended in a 6-4 Toronto win. These complaints again highlight the importance of ABS, probably! One comment was a straightforward and loud statement, mirroring thousands of fans’ POV.“Ump had a wrong call!!!” The reaction speaks volumes regarding the importance of precision in baseball’s playoffs, where even a single call can swing entire momentum and alter legacies. As supporters continue to demand technology to help in the automated strike zone, Game 5 of the World Series might be remembered as the turning point. Not just for Trey Yesavage’s rise, but also for MLB’s battle to reconstruct trust in its umpires.
