“That was absolutely disgusting”; “These umpires blind as a bat” - Astros fans frustrated as umps fail to overturn call on Alex Bregman

Alex Bregman was the victim of a bizarre umpiring decision when the Houston Astros faced the Cincinnati Reds at the Great American Ball Park on Wednesday afternoon. The Astros challenged a foul tip call on Bregman from the on-field umpires, who said the ball hit the bat. Yet, the video umpires did not overturn the decision, although the replay clearly shows the ball grazing the elbow of the batter.

This massive umpiring gaffe has left the fans fuming at the sheer ineptitude of the video umpires on various social media platforms.

On Wednesday, the Astros faced the Reds for the second meeting of their two-game series. The game was tied at 0-0 when Alex Bregman led off the fourth inning for the visitors, with Rhett Lowder on the mound for the home team. On a 1-1 count, Lowder offered a pitch inside the plate that Bregman went to hit before checking his swing. The ball passed below his bat and hit him on the right elbow.

However, the on-field umpires felt the ball had made contact with the bat instead and ruled Alex Bregman out on a foul tip. Astros manager Joe Espada challenged the call and asked for the video replays to be consulted. Espada and Bregman were both left stunned when the video umpire in New York did not overturn the call, although the footage clearly shows the ball missing the bat by a wide margin.

Naturally, the Astros fans were completely incensed with the non-overturned call as they blasted the video umpires on social media.

"Was watching it live. That was absolutely disgusting," posted one fan.

"These umpires blind as a bat," wrote another fan.

"What’s the point of replay? Like honestly, this is as bad as it gets" another one asked.

"Explain this @MLBreplays???????????????" one fan questioned the decision.

"It didn't hit him *or* the bat" one fan added.

Some Astros fans believe the missed hit by pitch call on Alex Bregman is just one in a long line of poor decisions that the team has suffered this season.

"That's not even the Astros worst non-overturn in recent memory. Altuve play at the plate in Boston in 2018. Simply egregious," one fan said.

"Look at the strike zone difference the Astros have had all year, Blanco getting tossed while others wash their hands. MLB has their villian" another fan pointed out.

"Astros the only team getting punished, Still getting punished apparently." another fan posted.

The Astros had an entirely forgettable afternoon after they got shut down by the Reds 1-0 and thereby surrendered the two-game series.

Replay showed it didn't hit the bat: Alex Bregman

Alex Bregman does not feel the bad decision cost the Astros a win (Photo Credit: IMAGN)

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada was ejected from the game in the aftermath of the botched call on Alex Bregman by the video umpires. Espada and Bregman both shared their views on the decision while speaking to the Houston Chronicle after the game.

"I didn't think that ball hit the bat," Joe Espada said. "Clearly, that's what the replay showed. And I just did not agree with the call."

"They just said that, since the call stood, they couldn't turn it to an actual ball instead of a strike even though the replay showed it didn't hit the bat," Alex Bregman said. "We didn't do anything offensively today. (The call) is not what won or lost the game by any means. We just didn't do anything offensively."

Despite the defeat, the Houston Astros have a 75-65 record at the top of the American League West with a five-game advantage over the Seattle Mariners. They will take on the Arizona Diamondbacks this weekend for a three-game series starting on Friday.