“So we can’t avoid tags now?”; “That’s absolutely terrible” - MLB fans react to Cody Bellinger’s controversial base-stealing call

Fans reacted to Chicago Cubs outfielder Cody Bellinger getting ruled out on the baseline in Sunday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. The play happened in the fourth inning with only one out and Bellinger at second base. Bellinger took more than warranted base-path lead, and Sonny Gray turned around to throw it at second base.

Bellinger, who knew that he was going to be short, had a rundown between second and third base. Somehow, he avoided the tag and reached third base, only to be ruled out by the umpire for going too far off the baseline in an attempt to avoid the tag.

The decision left fans surprised, and they took to social media to call out the "terrible" ruling.

"That’s absolutely terrible," one fan wrote.

"So we can’t avoid tags now? Ump show continues…" another added.

"He’s basically rounding the base, these umpires are something else," another wrote.

Some fans came out in defense of the umpire, with one claiming that Cody Bellinger was more than three feet off from the baseline.

"Good call," one wrote.

"Idk, it doesn’t seem that egregious and seems well within the distance there but then again we may not have the best angle. Did the Cubs challenge it? I would," another posted.

The Cubs are trailing 4-0 heading into the bottom of the sixth innings.

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Cody Bellinger having another good year with the Cubs

MLB: Pittsburgh Pirates at Chicago Cubs

The offseason didn't end up the way Cody Bellinger and his agent Scott Boras would have liked, but he eventually ended up with the team he wanted to in the first place.

It was a turbulent offseason, which saw the Cubs sign Bellinger to a three-year deal worth $80 million. He has a player option after the first year.

It hasn't been a great season, but Bellinger is on pace to have another good time at the plate. He has only appeared in 38 games after missing weeks on the injured list due to a rib fracture.

He's hitting .248, including seven home runs and 23 RBIs. His OPS stands at .766 while his on-base percentage is .335.