Umpire Who Made Terrible Call In Saturday’s Red Sox Game Makes Even Worse Call On Tuesday — Cb Bucknor Overruled
Umpire cb bucknor was at the center of two controversial games this week: six of his calls were overturned by the new ABS challenge system in Saturday’s Red Sox–Reds game, and on Tuesday he was overruled on a first-base play in the Brewers–Rays game after a successful challenge. The Saturday sequence left Boston’s manager Alex Cora ejected and Trevor Story visibly furious; Tuesday’s call at first base was reversed after replay showed the runner touched the bag. The incidents have intensified scrutiny of on-field judgment and the ABS review process.
Most critical facts first: overturned calls and the Tuesday reversal
The new automated ball-strike (ABS) challenge system overturned six of cb bucknor’s calls in Saturday’s game, eroding confidence among players and staff during that contest. On Tuesday, acting as first-base umpire, he ruled that Jake Bauers did not touch first base and was tagged out; the Brewers challenged the ruling and the call was overturned on review. Observers noted that Bauers appeared to have his entire foot on the bag when the play concluded and that Bucknor was not looking directly at the runner as the foot contacted the base, having turned his attention to the ball after it got past the first baseman on a poor throw.
Immediate reactions from managers and players
Boston manager Alex Cora, who was ejected during the Saturday game after arguing a check-swing call, acknowledged the difficulty of the job while leveling criticism. Alex Cora, Boston Red Sox manager, said: “He has one job to do, it’s (to) call balls and strikes. It wasn’t his best day. That’s what the system does. It’s out there, everybody sees it, and he’ll be the first one to accept it. I saw him putting his head down after one of the challenges. And we’re all human. It’s not easy, what we do and what he does. ” Trevor Story reacted angrily to a later check-swing call in that same game, and Alex Cora’s ejection followed the dispute. In the Tuesday game, both managers were seen laughing on the Brewers television broadcast after the overturned play, reflecting incredulity at the initial ruling.
Quick context: career and accuracy metrics
Cb Bucknor has been a member of an MLB umpiring crew since 1999. Umpire Scorecard placed him with the fifth lowest call accuracy during the 2025 regular season at 92. 81 percent; Edwin Jimenez was listed as the most accurate umpire at 96. 18 percent that year.
What’s next: ABS, challenges and oversight
With ABS active and teams using challenges aggressively, managers and umpires alike will watch the next series of games for signal of change in on-field calls and ABS outcomes. Expect continued scrutiny of individual calls, more challenges in tight games, and renewed attention on how umpires position themselves on outs at the bases and for balls and strikes. The immediate question for league officials and umpiring leadership will be whether the pattern of overturned calls prompts changes in training, positioning, or review protocols; meanwhile, players and managers have said they will keep using every available challenge to correct game-changing decisions.
As the season progresses and reviews stack up, cb bucknor’s next assignments will be watched closely by clubs and fans alike for whether the overturned calls remain an anomaly or indicate a deeper issue requiring corrective action.
