Three decades after his illustrious career as a Hall of Fame pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles concluded, Jim Palmer’s distaste for poor umpiring remains intact.
His feelings were on full display during the Orioles’ 4-2 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night, a game he was calling for the Mid-Atlantic Sports Network.
Palmer did not hold back after Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson was called out on strikes by umpire C.B. Bucknor on a pitch that appeared to be outside the strike zone in the first inning.
“You kinda wonder how bad he’s going to be and he’s shown us already in the first inning,” Palmer commented during the broadcast. “All you want is a guy that understands the strike zone.”
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Umpire Scorecards indicates that Bucknor’s pitch-calling accuracy stands at 91.6%, which is the lowest in the MLB this season among umpires who have officiated at least five games.
Palmer continued his critique, stating, “He shouldn’t be umpiring and he is, and they know it. He’s been around a long time, but that doesn’t necessarily qualify you—it’s kind of like pitching. When I couldn’t get people out, I became a broadcaster.”
Despite his controversial moments, Bucknor has an extensive resume, having officiated in five postseasons and two All-Star Games since beginning his MLB umpiring career in 1996.
