Just the other day, Senator Chris Murphy had the hottest of hot takes on MLB's Automated Ball-Strike System (ABS), which it rolled out for the 2026 season. Under these rules, MLB teams get two challenges per game; if the challenged call is overturned, they retain the challenge, and if it isn't, they lose the challenge.
After this call last night, it's clear ABS and replay systems are vital to the game, because this may be one of — if not the worst — calls in the history of the game.
It took place at last night's Milwaukee Brewers game. They were playing the Tampa Bay Rays when Brewers outfielder/first baseman Jake Bowers hit the ball towards right field.
Tampa Bay missed the catch and threw the ball to first base, where it went wide while Bauers touched the bag.
Bauers was then called out because first base umpire C.B. Bucknor said he never touched the base.
Watch:
CB Bucknor strikes again, this time saying the runner did not touch first base. He very clearly did pic.twitter.com/zn6k9RtLXl
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) April 1, 2026
Not only did Bauers clearly touch the bag, but Bucknor also wasn't even looking at the play to make the call.
Even Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash was baffled by this call.
It would be helpful if CB was watching the runner and not the ball sail over everyone's head. No wonder he misses everything. pic.twitter.com/q7CKRqlsvX
— Al Bundy (@Markymark1025) April 1, 2026
Thank goodness for the replay.
I think it was an honest mistake. He was watching the errant throw while the runner stepped on 1st and then looked back to see his next foot land beyond the bag.
— Josh 🇺🇸 (@TheJpawn) April 1, 2026
Fire for incompetence.
Strongly encourage to retire.
Something.
We are better than this. pic.twitter.com/bcZ0n0kZpS
This is how MLB does away with umpires entirely in favor of ABS.
CB Bucknor when he steps on a baseball field. pic.twitter.com/b2HeWPoici
— Carl TheTruth Is Back (@SuckMyTweet17) April 1, 2026
Okay, we laughed. Hard.
Making sure your job can’t be taken by AI by being so bad at it that it’s irreplaceably funny is actually galaxy brained https://t.co/gvFviKLGyB
— Karen McGee (@karenmotherof2) April 1, 2026
Bucknor is playing 4D chess.
Everyone is mocking CB Bucknor instead of celebrating him as the first blind ump https://t.co/11txFTotDU
— Tom Downey (@WhatGoingDowney) April 1, 2026
Well played.
It’s wild to see challenges made a part of baseball and all of a sudden you see how umpires were just awful all the time.
— Austen Allred (@Austen) April 1, 2026
Not even close. https://t.co/9xNmlWiddg
The worst part is the Brewers play again today at 12:40 pm Central. Bucknor is behind the plate for this game.