Latest news with #NicLentz
Yahoo
an hour ago
- General
- Yahoo
The Rays' Taylor Walls was ejected for tapping his helmet after blown call
During spring training, MLB made the decision to test an automated strike zone (ABS) with a ball-strike challenge system for a majority of Grapefruit and Cactus League games. And to signal a challenge, a batter would tap on his helmet after a pitch. Simple enough. It's safe to say that umpire Nic Lentz did *not* appreciate the callback to the ABS testing. Advertisement With Taylor Walls staying in the game to hit in the ninth on Sunday against the Astros, he watched a first-pitch slider from Josh Hader miss low and away. Yet, Lentz called the pitch a strike, and Walls couldn't believe it. Walls called time to try to collect himself after having his entire approach changed in the at-bat. He also had some words with Lentz about the call. But everything took a turn when Walls tapped his helmet. Lentz took exception to the gesture and casually walked in front of home plate to inform Walls that he was ejected. Like, I don't think I've ever seen an umpire eject someone so nonchalantly. Advertisement Walls, understandably, was livid. Umpires hate being shown up, and they have a quick trigger for arguing balls and strikes. But tapping on the helmet was an awfully tame way to express, "I disagree." Walls had to be restrained by his coaches before breaking out of those restraints and having more words for Lentz. All that over a helmet tap that Lentz really should have let slide. Walls was right, after all — the call was missed. Christopher Morel would have to hit in Walls' place, and he promptly struck out. The Astros held on to win, 1-0. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Rays' Taylor Walls was ejected for tapping helmet after blown call
Washington Post
2 hours ago
- General
- Washington Post
Taylor Walls ejected, has to be restrained in heated argument during Rays' 1-0 loss to Houston
HOUSTON — Tampa Bay Rays infielder Taylor Walls was ejected Sunday in the ninth inning of a 1-0 loss to Houston and had to be restrained during a prolonged argument. Walls appeared to tap his helmet after taking a called strike, which is a signal for challenging a call when the Automated Ball-Strike System is used. The ABS is not, however, being used in regular-season big league games yet, and plate umpire Nic Lentz seemed to take issue with the gesture. The clash escalated from there, with Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash coming out to talk to Lentz and try to keep Walls away from him.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Taylor Walls ejected, has to be restrained in heated argument during Rays' 1-0 loss to Houston
Tampa Bay Rays' Taylor Walls, center, is held back after he's ejected by Umpire Nic Lentz, left, for tapping his helmet after a strike call during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash, center, holds back Taylor Walls, right, after he's ejected by Umpire Nic Lentz for tapping his helmet after a strike call during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Tampa Bay Rays' Taylor Walls, center, is held back after he's ejected by Umpire Nic Lentz, left, for tapping his helmet after a strike call during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Tampa Bay Rays' Taylor Walls, center, is held back after he's ejected by Umpire Nic Lentz, left, for tapping his helmet after a strike call during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Tampa Bay Rays' Taylor Walls, center, is held back after he's ejected by Umpire Nic Lentz, left, for tapping his helmet after a strike call during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash, center, holds back Taylor Walls, right, after he's ejected by Umpire Nic Lentz for tapping his helmet after a strike call during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) Tampa Bay Rays' Taylor Walls, center, is held back after he's ejected by Umpire Nic Lentz, left, for tapping his helmet after a strike call during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros in Houston, Sunday, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis) HOUSTON (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays infielder Taylor Walls was ejected Sunday in the ninth inning of a 1-0 loss to Houston and had to be restrained during a prolonged argument. Walls appeared to tap his helmet after taking a called strike, which is a signal for challenging a call when the Automated Ball-Strike System is used. The ABS is not, however, being used in regular-season big league games yet, and plate umpire Nic Lentz seemed to take issue with the gesture. The clash escalated from there, with Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash coming out to talk to Lentz and try to keep Walls away from him. Advertisement Walls was walked back toward the dugout before breaking free and charging at a couple umpires who were in the home plate area. He was quickly grabbed from behind by first base coach Michael Johns, and this time Rays outfielder Josh Lowe walked him back to dugout. Christopher Morel replaced Walls at the plate and went down swinging for the second out of the ninth. ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Taylor Walls ejected, has to be restrained in heated argument during Rays' 1-0 loss to Houston
HOUSTON (AP) — Tampa Bay Rays infielder Taylor Walls was ejected Sunday in the ninth inning of a 1-0 loss to Houston and had to be restrained during a prolonged argument. Walls appeared to tap his helmet after taking a called strike, which is a signal for challenging a call when the Automated Ball-Strike System is used. The ABS is not, however, being used in regular-season big league games yet, and plate umpire Nic Lentz seemed to take issue with the gesture. The clash escalated from there, with Tampa Bay manager Kevin Cash coming out to talk to Lentz and try to keep Walls away from him. Advertisement Walls was walked back toward the dugout before breaking free and charging at a couple umpires who were in the home plate area. He was quickly grabbed from behind by first base coach Michael Johns, and this time Rays outfielder Josh Lowe walked him back to dugout. Christopher Morel replaced Walls at the plate and went down swinging for the second out of the ninth. ___ AP MLB: The Associated Press
USA Today
01-05-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Umpire Nic Lentz had MLB fans in awe after he called a perfect game behind the plate in Royals-Rays
Umpire Nic Lentz had MLB fans in awe after he called a perfect game behind the plate in Royals-Rays This past spring training, MLB experimented with any automated strike zone (ABS) challenge system for a majority of Cactus and Grapefruit League games. But even under that system, the challenges were limited. Teams were unlikely to get a perfectly called game. On Wednesday, though, the Royals and Rays got to experience what it would be like to play under a full ABS system because umpire Nic Lentz was basically a robot for a night. That's right — he called a perfect game. For just the third time since Umpire Scorecards began tracking balls and strikes in 2015, there was a perfectly called game with Lentz accurately calling all 129 taken pitches. The other two perfect games were called by now-fired Pat Hoberg in the 2022 World Series and Mark Ripperger on April 10 (also a Royals game). Just think: Every game could be like this if MLB went with a full ABS system. Still, it was incredibly impressive, and MLB fans gave Lentz high praise for the legendary night behind the plate. This was how Twitter/X reacted Take a bow, Blue!
