Umpire Dugout Antics: Max Scherzer Engages in Coin Toss Humor with Arbitrator as Entertainment
Max Scherzer Throws Shade at Controversial Umpire CB Bucknor
In a light-hearted dig at umpire CB Bucknor during a game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Cleveland Guardians, Max Scherzer playfully hinted at Bucknor's controversial calling style.
Sporting his signature intense focus, Scherzer, observing from the dugout, took issue with Bucknor's questionable strike zone. In a joking manner, Scherzer whipped out a coin and mimicked flipping it after each pitch, insinuating that Bucknor was making his decisions based on chance.
TV commentators caught on, humorously stating, "We all know what Max Scherzer is up to here. The picture tells the story."
With a chequered past for inaccurate calls and inconsistent strike zones, Bucknor's flair for controversy is well-known in the MLB circuit. Especially, his 2025 performances have raised eyebrows, with some games revealing a high number of missed calls.
In a 2025 Rockies-Athletics game, Bucknor registered a staggering 15 blown calls, according to Umpire Auditor's analysis, with 4 erroneous strikeouts. This pattern of inaccuracies has left many questioning his reliability and has fueled calls for an automated strike zone.
While Scherzer's coin-flip mimicry stopped short of making direct accusations, it echoed the sentiments of fans who've been critical of Bucknor's strike zone consistency. Though, it's worth noting that accusations of deliberate coin-flipping remain unproven in recent reports.
Amidst growing player frustration, Bucknor's career-long notoriety for accuracy issues continues to amplify, highlighting the need for improved umpiring standards.
Max Scherzer's coin-flip mimicry during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Cleveland Guardians was a playful dig at umpire CB Bucknor, whose controversial strike zone was once again under scrutiny. Bucknor's inconsistent performance in the 2025 Rockies-Athletics game, where he registered 15 blown calls and 4 erroneous strikeouts, further fueled the debate about his accuracy. Scherzer's actions reflected the sentiments of fans who have been critical of Bucknor's strike zone consistency for years, but it remains unproven that he intentionally uses a coin in his decisions. The need for improved umpiring standards in MLB has been highlighted by Bucknor's persistent issues.
