Strike three to end the season? ? pic.twitter.com/jIGOCnFTsJ
— SF Giants on NBCS (@NBCSGiants) September 27, 2020
The end to the Giants’ season might not have been fair, but it was certainly apropos.
San Francisco’s 2020 campaign ended on a controversial called strike three by home plate umpire Rob Drake, ringing up Austin Slater on a pitch that the appeared to land well below the strike zone. It was the final bizarre call in a game full of them, which also included the pitch prior, a called strike on a pitch well outside.
And that's how the season ends: with the Giants dugout shrieking at plate umpire Rob Drake as Austin Slater stares daggers into him. pic.twitter.com/ckpuzsDr4f
— Andrew Baggarly (@extrabaggs) September 27, 2020
The final call led to screams at Drake from the Giants dugout, most notably via Gabe Kapler. It wasn’t the first time he was hollered at. Mauricio Dubon looked one comment away from getting tossed when he was rung up on a pitch that looked both high and inside in the seventh inning.
Rob Drake with two brutal strike 3 calls on Dubon and Slater. The pitch is not a strike to begin with and considering they were sliders-these pitches were never strikes at all. Adams missed his location badly. Rarely does that get called. Happens twice this inning. #SFGiants pic.twitter.com/1mfk1dLxK5
— Jules Posner (@julesposner) September 27, 2020
Needless to say, Giants twitter was not happy.
Home plate umpire Rob Drake has been a rally-killer all day. Inconsistent calls for both teams, and he's missed several called strike threes.
I don't usually criticize home plate umpires because the job is really tough, but this is one of the worst showings of the 2020 season.
— Kerry Crowley (@KO_Crowley) September 27, 2020
Rob Drake was awful all afternoon. Ended the game (and season) on this pitch. Bring on the robots. pic.twitter.com/jZeLTD1IMg
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) September 27, 2020
The #SFGiants' season ends at 29-31 with the entire dugout screaming at home plate umpire Rob Drake, who did not have a good day. Giants were supposed to be terrible. They ended the year with the a guy who had a chance to put them into the playoffs standing on deck.
— Henry Schulman (@hankschulman) September 27, 2020
The Giants need to actually file a complaint. Rob Drake was an atrocity for that game.
— Grant Liffmann (@GrantLiffmann) September 27, 2020
Take a bow, Rob Drake pic.twitter.com/MEjLV1RcIM
— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) September 27, 2020
Fire Rob Drake immediately, @MLBUA
— Sean Jordan (@BaySean) September 27, 2020
That's a disgrace. Get Rob Drake out of MLB. Not even close.
— Brian Witt (@Wittnessed) September 27, 2020
Rob Drake was out there boning both teams, and making a mockery of the game. #SFGiants
— Brian Murphy (@knbrmurph) September 27, 2020
Perfect way for this season to end with Rob Drake ringing up the season on a ball a foot low. #SFGiants
— Mark Willard (@Mark_T_Willard) September 27, 2020
Rob Drake. Take a hike, buddy. Geez. #SFGiants
— Matt Leland (@MattLeland) September 27, 2020