Rougned Odor Got Called for the Lamest Pitch Clock Violation, and MLB Fans Ripped the Ump

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The new pitch clock rules in Major League Baseball have made games a lot faster, but they’ve also led to some pretty questionable calls that have left players and fans angry at the umpires and the league.
That happened again in Sunday’s Padres-Phillies game when San Diego’s Rougned Odor got called for a mind-boggling violation during an at-bat in the 12th inning. The automatic strike led to an 0-2 count, and he would go on to strike out.
Phillies pitcher Jeff Hoffman stepped off the mound for a few seconds while some trash blew around the infield. When he got back on the mound, Odor got in the batter’s box but then got called for not being set in time.
This didn’t seem like it was Odor’s fault:
Rougned Odor got a pitch clock violation because he thought time was called after Edmundo Sosa went to go pick up a piece of trash pic.twitter.com/odTWr4Gh01
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) July 17, 2023
That was pretty ridiculous and also costly, as the Padres went on to the lose the game, 7-6.
MLB fans were not happy:
that’s so stupid restart the clock https://t.co/eULIbhTY6u
— John (@JRic55555) July 17, 2023
Umps in Philly were just god awful all weekend. Neither player is ready but rougey gets the violation? 🤣 https://t.co/27wvoaWdIG
— 🦍 (@THEAlexLy_) July 17, 2023
The rule is so bad. The pitcher is running around the infield. Have a clue blue. https://t.co/AxN5ldEGQU
— ⚾️🏇🏾 Steve Adams (@AdstheGhost) July 17, 2023
Yeah they gotta clean that up. Pitcher is on his way to third lol... https://t.co/E2R9x0JqtO
— Belikemike_14 (@belikemike_14) July 17, 2023
They need to fix this kind of nonsense
— Randy Treibel (@RandyTreibel) July 17, 2023
Casual fans don't connect with it at all. https://t.co/uJfpM414bc
Why was the clock wound when Wheeler was jogging to third base to stop a runner from advancing?
— Amags (@amagspicks) July 17, 2023
This isn’t even an issue with the rule, it’s an issue with the umpire not knowing how to do his job.. https://t.co/fkudF5jMMJ
See, this is the biggest issue with this rule!! Why would the batter have to be in the box if the pitcher isn't ready to pitch? That gives all the advantage to the pitcher. It's total crap!! https://t.co/94lHCpmERy
— Just Me (@Just_Me_Myself7) July 17, 2023

Andy Nesbitt is the assistant managing editor of audience engagement at Sports Illustrated. He works closely with the Breaking and Trending News team to shape SI’s daily coverage across all sports. A 20-year veteran of the sports media business, he has worked for Fox Sports, For the Win, The Boston Globe and NBC Sports, having joined SI in February 2023. Nesbitt is a golf fanatic who desperately wants to see the Super Bowl played on a Saturday night.
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