MASN broadcaster Jim Palmer won’t be on referee CB Buckner’s Christmas card list any time soon.
Not after the former Baltimore star pitcher tore at MLB umpires during the Orioles’ 4-2 win over the Yankees on Tuesday night at Camden Yards.
Palmer, a Hall of Fame pitcher, was not a fan of Buckner’s officiating style, and he was not a fan of Buckner’s officiating style, as Yanks pitcher Nestor Cortez hit a low ball in the bottom of the first inning of the second game of a four-game set between the AL East rivals. That feeling only became stronger when I threw it. It was called a strike.
With a low strike-three call on Gunnar Henderson, Palmer launched into a ferocious attack on Buckner.
“I’m curious to see how bad he’s going to be, but he’s already shown it in one inning,” Palmer said. “What you want is a guy who understands the strike zone. That’s on the ground.”
The MASN station didn’t stop there.
“He’s not supposed to be officiating and he is, and they know that,” Palmer continued. “It’s like being a pitcher. When I couldn’t get people out, I became the announcer.”
Commentator Kevin Brown tried to lighten the situation with a quick joke after Palmer’s comments.
“So I guess CB will be in the booth tomorrow,” Brown joked.
Buckner’s pitching accuracy is rated at 91.6%. According to the referee scorecardThis is tied for the lowest in baseball this season among umpires who have worked at least five games.
The Orioles still won the game, but lost 2-0 to the Yankees on Wednesday night.
It was the Yankees’ first win in four consecutive games.
The MLB season has only just begun, but umpires have already come under fire several times, including Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who accused umpire Hunter Wendell of fan comments that came from the dugout. This includes when Stedt accidentally misunderstood and was ejected from the match.
