Umpire's Antics Instigate pitcher Max Scherzer to engage in a coin flip shenanigan in the dugout as a playful jab
Having a Ball with Bucknor: Max Scherzer went all out with a cheeky dig at umpire CB Bucknor during the Toronto Blue Jays' clash with the Cleveland Guardians.
The home plate ump for the game wasn't exactly known for his rock-solid strike zone, and Scherzer, lounging in the dugout, clearly expressed his thoughts on Bucknor's call-making methods.
For several minutes, Scherzer waved a coin, flipping it after each pitch, insinuating that Bucknor suspected the calls like a coin toss.
"I reckon we all know what Max Scherzer is up to here," the commentators said. "The visuals speak for themselves."
Apr 2, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer (31) warms up in the dugout before the start of a game against the Houston Astros at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images. (© Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images)
Scherzer Takes Aim at Bucknor
Bucknor's performance, as usual, left much to be desired on Friday, with a mere 92% success rate, as per Umpire Scorecard's X account. His relative accuracy was also underwhelming, and his consistency was a mere 89%, lagging behind the Major League average of 94%.
To put it simply, Scherzer was making a point: that Bucknor could be flipping coins rather than giving balls and strikes fair consideration. In all honesty, it might have been a more reliable method than his actual approach.
Enrichment Data:
The Situation:
Max Scherzer's coin-flipping jab at CB Bucknor on May 2, 2025, seems to be a one-off incident and not part of an ongoing pattern in Major League Baseball (MLB) history. During the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Cleveland Guardians, Scherzer was caught on camera ridiculing Bucknor for his shaky strike zone—particularly his 11 missed calls in just four innings, many of which negatively affected Scherzer's Blue Jays team[3]. Although Bucknor has faced criticism for his umpiring style in the past, Scherzer's mocking is seen as a humorous response to the particular game's umpiring rather than a repeated complaint throughout MLB history[1][3][4]. Overall, the "coin-flipping" accusation from Scherzer is a recent, single occurrence rather than a recurring issue in MLB umpiring.
Scherzer's coin-flipping antics during the game against the Cleveland Guardians were a direct response to CB Bucknor's questionable performance, with a 92% success rate and inconsistent calls, as per Umpire Scorecard's X account. In essence, Scherzer was implying that Bucknor might as well be flipping coins instead of making fair calls, a criticism that echoed the general sentiment among spectators due to Bucknor's eleven missed calls in just four innings, which significantly impacted Scherzer's team.
