Umpire C.B. Bucknor's brutal start to season continues

New York Post • April 1, 2026 • general

Key Points:

MLB umpire C.B. Bucknor faced criticism after incorrectly calling Brewers’ Jake Bauers out for missing first base during a game against the Rays, despite Bauers clearly touching the bag.
The call was overturned upon challenge, with replays showing Bucknor was not watching the base when making the call, prompting laughter from players, managers, and broadcasters.
Brewers broadcaster Jeff Levering criticized Bucknor for not looking at the play, highlighting the umpire's apparent inattention during the call.
This incident follows a recent game where Bucknor had six calls overturned by the Automated Ball-Strike System, raising questions about his performance.
Bucknor has been an MLB umpire since 1996 and is the second-longest-tenured umpire in the league.