Imago
Image: MLB.com
Imago
Image: MLB.com
This Saturday at Citi Field, the Mets honored the legacy of David Wright before playing the Reds. The ceremony was full of optimism until Juan Soto got a bad call in the bottom of the first inning. And not only on the diamond, but it changed the tone right away on social media, too.
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Juan Soto, known for his great plate discipline and calmness, looked completely confused by the call. He gazed blankly when the third strike was called. This was unusual, not only for Soto but also for the skipper and fans. Again, the umpiring decision was questioned. This time, it was Manny Gonzalez from behind the plate.
When Juan Soto faced Reds lefty Nick Martinez, he did what he does best: work the count. He took the first pitch for a ball, then he confidently let a cutter go inside and up at his chest, thinking it would be ball two. But umpire Manny Gonzalez declared it a strike. Soto fouled off the next two pitches, and then faced a 93mph sinker, ruling it as strike three. The look on his face said it all. He couldn’t believe what had just transpired. Talkin’ Baseball summed up the whole incident with a simple 2-word caption: “Robot Umps.”
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Robot Umps pic.twitter.com/6YDxjA9FgT
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 19, 2025
The Mets lost against the Reds 5–2. They gave up a 2–0 lead even though Brett Baty hit a home run and Mark Vientos had a single that drove in a run. Juan Soto had one hit, one walk, stole second, and struck out twice, including a check swing. The Cincinnati Reds came back thanks to Jake Fraley’s three hits and two RBIs. Nick Martinez and the bullpen shut off the NYM offense.
But with this whole incident, we couldn’t help but notice how Juan Soto has found himself on a few controversial calls so far this season. Soto took a pitch low and outside on a 0–1 count during the Subway Series finale on July 6. He was sure it was a ball, but plate umpire John Bacon startled everyone by calling strike two. Bacon called him again later in the game, which agitated Mets manager Carlos Mendoza and got him sent out in protest.
Now, the recent Gonzalez case has reignited those emotions. And MLB fans are delivering a mix of voices from their keyboards.
Metsies react to Juan Soto strikeout
The dust may have settled on the diamond, but on X, it has just gotten started. For some, that was a good call, and for others, the urgency of ABS is more than ever. One fan called out the reaction of Juan Soto. “Clearly a strike Soto is just a crybaby.” Implying that Soto was just overreacting, and it was just a routine ball. But was he?
If anything, with so many wrong calls, fans are now frustrated. “These refs should start being fined everytime they give a bad call.” This reflects a need for professional sports accountability. If players are fined for mistakes, shouldn’t umpires be, too?
Does MLB need ABS more than ever? Well, fans think so. “The league needs ABS so bad.” Over the past couple of years, ABS discussions have grown in MLB. The Triple A and minor leagues are already using it, and recently, its use and success in the All-Star Game have fueled ever more interest.
Then, there came a direct jab at the Venezuelan umpire. “Wow… I mean come on after this that ump needs to be sent for a random eye test.” An open take on the umpire’s capacity to do their job, suggesting that the mistake was not merely a bad decision. But an inability to see things clearly.
Finally, the sarcasm finds its way. “800 million dollar strike.” A witty comment on Juan Soto’s $765 million contract. It nails the absurdity: You make a lot of money, but still have to deal with the hard reality of baseball. Clever and true!
The Juan Soto strikeout highlights the ongoing conflict between tradition and technology in baseball. And this Manny Gonzalez call has rekindled disputes that will likely persist until MLB fully adopts technology.
Written by
Edited by
Ahana Chatterjee