If you tuned in Monday night hoping the Mets would keep the good vibes rolling, you probably ended up yelling at your TV by the sixth inning. The New York Mets’ seven-game heater came to a screeching halt thanks to a chaotic 7-6 loss to the San Diego Padres — and not without some serious umpire drama that had everyone from players to announcers doing a double take.
Mendoza Ejected After Fiery Exchange Over Strike Zone
Let’s get this out of the way: yes, the Mets lost, but if you watched even a few innings, you know this game had an extra character lurking behind the plate — and we’re not talking about a catcher. Home plate umpire Emil Jimenez decided to insert himself directly into the story like an overzealous extra trying to steal the spotlight. From the first pitch to the final out, his strike zone felt more like a moving target than a consistent standard, leaving both dugouts fuming.
It hit a boiling point in the third inning when Mets manager Carlos Mendoza had finally seen enough. After a few borderline — and we’re being generous here — calls didn’t go the Mets’ way, Mendoza stormed out to give Jimenez a piece of his mind and got tossed for his trouble. It was loud, it was animated, and it summed up exactly how the Mets felt about the way things were being called.
Soto Gets Rung Up, Then Eyeballed by the Umpire
Fast-forward to the seventh inning. Juan Soto — not exactly known for being shy — took a pitch that sailed above the strike zone, about elbow-high. It was called strike three. And then came the moment that really fired everyone up: Jimenez stared Soto down like a school principal waiting for a kid to talk back. It was awkward, unnecessary, and had the Mets broadcast booth raising its collective eyebrows.
One of the Mets announcers didn’t hold back: “I mean, you watch this pitch, it’s clearly above the zone. That’s at his elbow. He delays, calls a strike, and then stares at Juan, wanting a reaction. ‘OK, you want to say something?’ Don’t make yourself part of the action.”
Mets Fans Want Baseball, Not a One-Man Umpire Show
And honestly, that’s the thing. Nobody tunes in to watch the umpire. But Monday night, Jimenez made sure we did.
Look, games get chippy. Calls get missed. It’s part of baseball. But when the man behind the plate becomes the main character, something’s off. The Mets are trying to claw their way back into the playoff picture. Every pitch counts. And when those pitches are being judged with, let’s say, artistic flair? That’s a problem.
Let’s hope the rest of the series gets back to baseball, not ump shows.
