Chipper Jones slams umpire over bad calls in Cubs-Tigers game

National Baseball Hall of Famer Chipper Jones criticized MLB umpire Doug Eddings following a game between the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers. Jones expressed frustration over missed calls, particularly strike-three calls that he believed were incorrect. He described Eddings as one of the worst umpires in the league and criticized his confrontational demeanor.

Jones, who played for the Atlanta Braves from 1993-2012, mentioned his familiarity with Eddings. The umpire, who started in MLB in the late 1990s, has officiated in multiple postseason series, including two World Series. Jones did not elaborate on his personal experiences with Eddings but indicated they were not positive.

During the Cubs-Tigers game, Eddings' overall accuracy was reported at 92%, with an 80% accuracy in called strikes. A Twitter account shared Eddings' performance data, noting that eight of his 40 called strikes were actually balls. The use of technology in umpiring has been a topic of debate, with MLB considering implementing an automated ball-strike challenge system by 2026.

The proposed system, tested during spring training, allows pitchers and hitters to challenge ball-strike calls made by the home plate umpire. Each team may have two challenges per game, adding a strategic element. Despite potential changes, the role of umpires in the game will remain, and Jones hopes for improved officiating standards in the future.