MLB umpire caught cursing on hot mic after blowing call as Red Sox down Twins

New York Post - May 3rd, 2025
Open on New York Post

During the Red Sox's 6-1 win over the Twins, umpire Bill Miller experienced a humorous hot-mic moment when his off-the-cuff reaction to a replay review was audibly captured. The incident occurred after his initial call of a runner being safe at home plate was overturned, prompting Miller to express his frustration with explicit language. Despite Boston's comfortable lead, the reversal drew boos from the crowd, highlighting Miller's candid reaction to the mistake.

The moment underscored the tension umpires face in making accurate calls, especially in bang-bang plays like the one involving Byron Buxton's relay to home plate. Though the call didn't significantly impact the game's outcome, it served as a reminder of the pressures on umpires, even seasoned ones like Miller, who has a long history with Major League Baseball, including serving as crew chief for the 2023 World Series. The incident also emphasized the importance of replay in ensuring correct decisions in the sport.

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.2
Moderately Fair
Read with skepticism

The article provides an engaging account of a humorous yet controversial moment in a baseball game, focusing on the human aspect of sports officiating. While it captures the incident clearly and engages readers with vivid language, it falls short in accuracy due to factual discrepancies and lacks comprehensive source attribution. The story's timeliness and potential to spark discussion among sports fans are notable strengths, but its impact is limited to the sports community. Greater transparency and balance, along with more diverse sourcing, would enhance the article's reliability and depth. Overall, it serves as an entertaining piece for sports enthusiasts, though it requires careful consideration of its factual accuracy.

RATING DETAILS

7
Accuracy

The story accurately reports the main event: umpire Bill Miller's hot-mic moment during a Red Sox vs. Twins game where his call was overturned. However, the article inaccurately states that Miller's initial call was an 'out', when it was actually a 'safe' call that was overturned to 'out'. This misreporting affects the factual accuracy of the article. Additionally, the final score of the game is reported as 6-1, while other sources mention it as 7-1, indicating a discrepancy that needs resolution. The article correctly references Miller's career details, such as his tenure as an MLB umpire starting in 1999, but it doesn't provide verifiable sources for these claims.

6
Balance

The article primarily focuses on the umpire's mistake and his reaction, without offering a broader perspective on the implications of such errors in baseball officiating. It provides limited viewpoints, mainly from the announcers and the umpire, without including perspectives from players, coaches, or fans who might have been affected by the call. The story could benefit from a more balanced exploration of how such calls impact the game and the teams involved, potentially offering insights into the challenges of umpiring at high-stakes games.

8
Clarity

The article is written in a straightforward and engaging manner, making it easy to follow the sequence of events. The use of direct quotes adds vividness to the narrative, although the explicit language used may not be suitable for all audiences. The structure is logical, with a clear focus on the incident and its immediate aftermath. However, minor inaccuracies in reporting could confuse readers unfamiliar with the event.

5
Source quality

The article lacks direct citations or quotes from authoritative sources, such as official MLB statements or interviews with the involved parties. It relies on the narrative of the announcers and the umpire, which, while relevant, does not provide a comprehensive view of the incident. The absence of diverse sources raises questions about the reliability and depth of the reporting. Including official game logs or statements from MLB could enhance the credibility of the story.

5
Transparency

The article does not clearly disclose its sources or the methodology used to gather the information. It does not indicate whether the quotes and details were obtained from live broadcasts, official reports, or eyewitness accounts. This lack of transparency makes it difficult for readers to assess the basis of the claims made. Providing more context about how the information was gathered and verified would improve the article's transparency.

Sources

  1. https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/mlb/news/mlb-umpire-caught-cursing-on-camera-during-the-red-sox-twins-match/articleshow/120847562.cms
  2. https://motociclismo.pt/en/major-league-baseball-drama-unfolds-as-umpire-bill-miller-drops-f-bomb-after-shocking-call-blunder-in-red-sox-twins-clash/
  3. https://www.si.com/mlb/bill-miller-umpire-swears-at-self-replay-review
  4. https://athlonsports.com/mlb/boston-red-sox/mlb-umpires-curse-caught-hot-mic-missing-call-red-sox-twins
  5. https://awfulannouncing.com/mlb/umpire-bill-miller-f-bomb-nationals.html