The Yankees, Red Sox and Blue Jays are in a dead heat for the American League wild card spots. And if Boston ends up missing out on a postseason appearance, it’ll be tough to overlook the horrible night that umpire Joe West had on Sunday.
He very well may have impacted an entire playoff race.
The Red Sox took the lead in the seventh inning after Yankees outfielder Joey Gallo dropped a fly ball in left field. With the two teams tied in the standings, this game had major postseason implications, and the Red Sox had all the momentum — briefly.
The game would swing in the top of the eighth when Aaron Judge should have been called out on a caught foul-tip third strike. Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez caught the ball and as he was reaching for it in his glove on the transfer, the ball fell out.
Joe West called this a foul ball instead of a foul-tip third strike that was dropped on the transfer.
Not good.pic.twitter.com/iyFl2puSVJ
— Billy Heyen (@BillyHeyen) September 27, 2021
West just straight-up missed the call, giving Judge new life.
Then, this happened
AARON JUDGE HAS THIS TEAM'S BACK! YANKEES TAKE THE LEAD! pic.twitter.com/nVnx4IZGlp
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) September 27, 2021
On the next pitch, Judge drove the go-ahead, two-run double to the gap in center field. What should have been a strikeout turned into the game-changing hit. Giancarlo Stanton would pile on with a two-run home run the following at-bat.
And while West was demonstrably bad behind the plate for both teams (as seen below), the Red Sox had every reason to be upset about the missed call during Judge’s at-bat.
Ladies and Gentleman… Joe West.
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) September 27, 2021
Vazquez clearly dropped the ball on the transfer — it wasn’t particularly close either. No wonder fans crushed West for his performance that game.
This was how Twitter reacted
Joe West just missed a call that quite literally could change the course of the AL Wild Card race.
Unacceptable
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) September 27, 2021
"Joe West is retiring." Baseball fans: pic.twitter.com/LN5TmzzHwZ
— SportzStew Ⓥ (@sportzstewcom) September 27, 2021
Joe West just cost the Red Sox the game. How was that not called the strike out? Why didn’t Vasquez and Cora argue? I am so confused. OMG.
— Dan Kelley (@DanKelley66) September 27, 2021
Joe West being Joe West
— Dillard Barnhart (@BarnHasSpoken2) September 27, 2021
good morning to everyone except joe west, jonnu smith and josh mcdaniels.
— Mikewichter (@mikewichter) September 27, 2021
Thank you Joe West. pic.twitter.com/zuO6edPscy
— Boston Strong (@BostonStrong_34) September 27, 2021
Wake up, Joe West.
Lots on the line.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) September 27, 2021
Red Sox fans have every right to be furious at Joe West.
And don't act like you wouldn't be losing your minds if he did this to your team during a crucial game in a Wild Card race.
— Gabrielle (@gfstarr1) September 27, 2021
Lol Joe West pic.twitter.com/in7qDYtVqK
— Blue Jays Bat Boy (@bluejaysbatboy) September 27, 2021
Joe West has literally blown this game for the Red Sox. Judge struck out. Vazquez caught the ball.
— Jordan Moore (@iJordanMoore) September 27, 2021
Judge getting strike 4 has completely flipped this game around. Thanks Joe West.
— Brandon Moor (@RockChalkTown) September 27, 2021
joe west came through not judge, lol https://t.co/387SgIsfkV
— Brianna ✨ (@briannaestela15) September 27, 2021
The game will be better off without West.
