MLB fans were in disbelief that umpire Brian O'Nora is still working after another terrible game
When it comes to bad umpires, fans are quick to call out Angel Hernandez. And don’t get me wrong: Hernandez is a bad umpire. But he is far from the worst umpire working Major League games.
That title should probably belong to Brian O’Nora, and it’s somewhat astonishing that O’Nora has operated under the radar compared to Hernandez, C.B. Bucknor or Rob Drake.
Tuesday’s game between the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins was yet another example of O’Nora being totally unsuited for his role as a big-league umpire. According to Umpire Scorecards, O’Nora posted a putrid 89.6 percent accuracy on the night. He missed 16 calls, including several that were nowhere close to the plate.
Umpire: Brian O'Nora
Final: Marlins 4, Braves 7#MakeItMiami // #ForTheA#MIAvsATL // #ATLvsMIAMore stats for this game https://t.co/rN07jB2llj pic.twitter.com/WWaKuTwibd
— Umpire Scorecards (@UmpScorecards) April 26, 2023
This pitch that nearly caught the opposite batter’s box was called a strike to Ozzie Albies.
"The strike zone is a suggestion." –@BrandonGaudin
Umpire Brian O'Nora missed 17 calls on the night in the #Braves #Marlins game, including 4 by more than 2.5 inches. pic.twitter.com/LyZE7QGdyM
— Umpire Auditor (@UmpireAuditor) April 26, 2023
Now, this wasn’t just an off night for O’Nora. He’s been this way all season. Out of the five games he’s worked behind the plate, he’s posted a sub-90-percent accuracy in three of them. Out of umpires who have worked at least five games behind the plate this season, O’Nora ranks dead last in accuracy at 91 percent.
When you take into account his off the field conduct and his poor performances this season, it’s an insult to the game that he’s still working behind the plate.
After Tuesday, MLB fans had seen enough of O’Nora.