The dramatic ending to the heavyweight fight between the Dodgers and Giants in the NLDS came to a controversial finish. Both teams battled in the winner take all event with the Dodgers getting the upper hand in the 9th inning. With the Giants’ backs against the wall, their fate was sealed due to a check swing on first baseman Wilmer Flores.
The call immediately caused frustration and disappointment throughout Oracle Park, even as the Dodgers rushed onto the field to celebrate their series win. Obviously, you never want to have your season end on such a call, especially one that has caused so much debate. Fans from all around the game voiced their opinions on the call.
There were the ones who thought the call was right or at least owed to the Dodgers for one that was blown in July between the two teams.
Much more of a swing than what the video angle shows pic.twitter.com/eFg6r4fCKQ
— Moondoggy (??????) (@Moondoggie2020) October 15, 2021
THE UNIVERSE HAS BALANCED ITSELF pic.twitter.com/K6zuXVQQHz
— iwhites (@youlovetocit) October 15, 2021
Check Swing JUSTICE!!! #RepeatLA #Dodgers pic.twitter.com/LwXuSdkdjZ
— Jerry Hairston, Jr. (@TheRealJHair) October 15, 2021
Then you had the fans who were appalled by the missed call that closed the book on the Giants’ season.
Dodgers fans acting like a blown check swing call in July is the same as a blown call with the season on the line pic.twitter.com/ADRgY3fcQb
— Nick Stellini (@StelliniTweets) October 15, 2021
The Wikipedia page for Gabe Morales, the umpire who called the check swing on Wilmer Flores to end the Giants-Dodgers NLDS, has been changed to “legally blind” pic.twitter.com/8FNgwYiRj2
— Dalton Johnson (@DaltonJ_Johnson) October 15, 2021
One of the biggest moments in MLB history & the first base ump has the audacity to ring up Wilmer Flores on this check swing. Wow man what a disgrace. pic.twitter.com/aL3dGt3vlr
— ? (@yeahnoshitdude) October 15, 2021
Even SportsNetLA play-by-play announcer Joe Davis and others didn’t agree with the call made by umpire Gabe Morales.
Ruf checked his swing but FLORES DIDN’T!!!
— Joe Davis (@Joe_Davis) October 15, 2021
Worst call in sports- the check swing- .. terrible way to end this epic series/rivalry. Pitching is so good got to give the hitter a chance to say NO late.
— Kevin Pillar (@KPILLAR4) October 15, 2021
Horrible call on that check swing!!!!!!!!
— Jimmy Rollins (@JimmyRollins11) October 15, 2021
Whether you see it as a check swing or not is a matter of opinion, just as it was for Morales. It’s hard to truly pinpoint if it was or not since there are no firm rules on where or how a check swing should be determined. It’s usually a judgment call by the umpire and more times than not they’ll determine if there was a firm intent to swing at the pitch.
Unfortunately for Morales, this is a call that won’t be forgotten anytime soon. It won’t be a call that anyone will forget for that matters as it will surely go down in history as one of if not the most controversial ways to end a winner take all playoff game.
What’s your take on the call?
NEXT: Dodgers Had a Very Specific Plan of Attack to Win it in the 9th, According to Gavin Lux