There aren't a lot of players in baseball more outspoken than Chris Bassitt, so umpire Chad Fairchild might have saved himself from some sideways comments Monday.
While Bassitt was pitching to Braves shortstop Dansby Swanson in the top of the fifth inning, Bassitt whistled a 2-2 fastball over the heart of the plate and at the knees of Swanson for what he thought was strike three. Bassitt started his stroll off the mound and the Mets infield started to come in, but Fairchild called the pitch ball three and the Mets had to take the walk of shame back onto the field amid a chorus of boos for Fairchild from Mets fans at Citi Field.
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In between innings, Chad Fairchild owned up to Chris Bassitt for missing a strike call on Dansby Swanson pic.twitter.com/yPWhnSgymx
— SNY (@SNYtv) May 3, 2022
Bassitt went onto walk Swanson and hit Ronald Acuña on the next at-bat, but a pop-out from Matt Olson ensured the only lasting damage from the inning was on Bassitt's pitch count.
After the inning was over, Bassitt asked Fairchild if the pitch was low, but Fairchild offered a mea culpa and told Bassitt he simply missed the call.
Umpire pride is a tricky thing, so it's refreshing to have Fairchild own up to a missed call. No one thinks umping is an easy job, but umpires who mean mug or have a quick hook for complaints about their strike zone don't build up a lot of goodwill. Sometimes a pitch is just a little too on the black, and the person behind the plate gets fooled.
"I knew it was a strike, but at the same time, I think umpires, they have one of the hardest jobs in the world," Bassitt said during the scrum after the game, per ESPN. "I have no problem if an umpire misses a call -- that happens. But especially if an umpire just accepts that, well, what am I going to say? It is what it is.
"He said he was wrong. I said I was wrong (for showing Fairchild up)," Bassitt continued. "I was like, 'All right. Let's move on.'"
The Mets were without manager Buck Showalter on Monday, who was suspended for Yoan Lopez throwing at Kyle Schwarber Sunday night. Without Showalter to advocate for him, Bassitt did just fine on his own.
