Getting to the bottom of Tigers-Mets on-deck circle kerfuffle
New York — It was a rough night for home-plate umpire Junior Valentine on Wednesday. There were six challenges, and three of his calls were overturned. He’d mistakenly thought the Mets’ Brett Baty had asked for a challenge when he was only adjusting his helmet.
There was a lot going on in a tight game that ended up being a 3-2 Mets win in the 10th inning . So, he might’ve been a little on edge in the eighth inning when Mets reliever Luke Weaver started barking at the Tigers’ on-deck hitters. “I didn’t know what that was about,” Matt Vierling said.
It was about the pitch-clock. Apparently the Tigers’ hitters were blocking Weaver’s view. “I guess he generally looks on that one side,” manager AJ Hinch said.
“(Riley) Greene was unintentionally in the way so he moved the circle back. And I really don’t know what was going on after that. ” Vierling came to the on-deck circle when Greene went to the plate.
“I try to get as close to the pitcher as I can,” Vierling said. “I want to see how the ball is moving. What’s his breaking ball look like?