Umpire’s bad comments about team heard by whole stadium on hot mic.

Richard MoorheadMay 30, 2023

Major League Baseball Umpire Caught on Hot Mic Bad-Mouthing Team

During a Saturday contest between the Miami Marlins and the Los Angeles Angels, umpire Jeff Nelson was caught on a hot mic bad-mouthing the Marlins, leaving many fans questioning his impartiality. Nelson announced that the Marlins were challenging an out call at home plate in the 10th inning, but a few seconds later, he didn’t realize his stadium mic was still on and said, “They got their heads up their a**. Let’s go.” The profanity was audible to the entire stadium, with the Angels home crowd perhaps in agreement with his impatience to declare the Marlins baserunner out.

And it was a successful challenge for the @Marlins pic.twitter.com/CWjiCsIynZ

— Andrew Powell (@AndrewPowellDC) May 28, 2023

The Marlins ultimately won the challenge, with a review determining Angels catcher Matt Thaiss wasn’t touching home plate during a force-out play that prevented the run. Nelson was serving as first-base umpire in the game, while CB Bucknor served at home plate.

Baseball Challenge Rules

Baseball managers were first given the ability to challenge calls in 2014, according to Sportskeeda. The introduction of a pitch clock in MLB this season has been a struggle for both umpires and players, with both parties struggling to enforce the rules of a system that implements time limits to a sport that has long eschewed clocks.

Controversial Conduct

It’s unclear when or if Nelson became aware that he had just cursed out a team to an entire stadium, conduct that would be considered inappropriate for an umpire. Baseball umpires and players have been under scrutiny for their conduct on and off the field, with incidents like this only adding fuel to the fire.