Check swings have been getting more heat this year than I remember in years past. This is one that happened recently leading to an ejection.
Not sure why folks cannot remember the rule on this one. If it is called a strike by the home plate guy, it is a strike. If it is called a ball, then he can grant an appeal. That is not the umpire’s choice – it is the rules.
In this video at about the 1:07 mark, you can see the umpire mouth something to the effect “I don’t make the rules”.
I wonder if this issue is getting enough heat to bring about a rule change.
BetterRuleBook.com 