AWFUL UMPIRING
Here's why the umpire from Astros-Yankees was even worse than we thought
May 5, 2021, 12:04 pm
Correa was not happy with the home plate umpire. Photo by Elsa/Getty Images.
Tuesday's Astros-Yankees game was very difficult to watch as an Astros fan. Home plate umpire Jose Navas missed so many calls it was hard for us to keep count during the game. Luckily, the folks at Umpire Auditor kept track of Navas' horrendous performance on Tuesday night. Navas wasn't just calling balls as strikes against the Astros, like during one of Carlos Correa's at-bats when he called two pitches that were below the strike zone as strikes. But he also squeezed Bryan Abreu in the 6th inning which led to the Yankees blowing the game open and never looking back. Astros catcher Martin Maldonado was so disgusted he could be seen arguing with the umpire throughout the inning.
According to Umpire Auditor, Navas missed an alarming 21 calls throughout the game. Have a look at how far outside this pitch was that he rung up Kyle Tucker on. This certainly felt like a game in which everyone outside of Houston wanted to see the Astros "take their medicine" in their first appearance at Yankee Stadium after the sign-stealing scandal went public.
Hopefully, with this game in the books, the Astros can move on and worry about beating the Yankees, and not think about having to beat the umpires too.
Tough night for umpire Jose Navas in the @Yankees @astros game. He missed 21 calls.
This called strikeout to @KTuck30 missed outside by 3.47 inches. pic.twitter.com/edJsMsm7Mb
— Umpire Auditor (@UmpireAuditor) May 5, 2021
The Houston Astros wrapped up yet another series win this week, this time taking two of three from the struggling Colorado Rockies at Coors Field. Despite missing several key players and a bullpen that wasn’t fully available, the Astros continued their recent run of success, pushing their record to 52-35.
Manager Joe Espada appeared to be playing the long game in the rubber match on Thursday. After Houston rallied to tie the game in the seventh inning, Espada stuck with reliever Jordan Weems instead of turning to his high-leverage arms. That decision, while frustrating to some fans hoping for the sweep, underscored the team’s cautious approach to workload management as they navigate a long season.
One bright spot continues to be rookie Cam Smith, who delivered again in the clutch with a two-run triple in the seventh inning on Thursday. Smith has been Houston’s most dependable bat with runners on base and is quickly settling into the cleanup role—a rarity for a first-year player but one he’s earned with his poise and production.
Astros cleanup hitter RBIs this season:
Cam Smith: 10 RBIs in 7 games
All others: 28 RBIs in 80 games
— Matt Kawahara (@matthewkawahara) July 3, 2025
Off the field, the biggest storyline continues to be Yordan Alvarez’s injury. After reports surfaced that the slugger had experienced a setback in his return from a fractured hand, the team clarified that the issue is inflammation, not the fracture itself. Astros general manager Dana Brown said Alvarez received injections to address the irritation and is expected to rest for now. Encouragingly, the Astros say the fracture is no longer a concern, and while there’s still no definitive timeline for his return, the overall tone from the club was optimistic.
The transparency around Alvarez’s situation is part of a larger shift. After being criticized in recent seasons for vague injury updates, the Astros have begun issuing daily availability reports. It’s a move that signals the front office is trying to regain some trust with the media and fans after a stretch of frustrating ambiguity around player health.
Now, the Astros head to Los Angeles for a marquee matchup with the defending champion Dodgers. Friday’s opener will feature Lance McCullers Jr. making just his second start since returning from the injured list. McCullers gave up eight runs in his return against the Cubs and will be under the spotlight as he looks to settle back into form. Control will be the key, as walks have long been McCullers’ Achilles’ heel.
Saturday sets the stage for one of the most anticipated pitching matchups of the season: Framber Valdez versus Shohei Ohtani. With both teams fighting for positioning in their respective divisions, this weekend in LA should serve as a measuring stick—and perhaps a postseason preview.
There's so much more to get to! Don't miss the video below as we examine the topics above and much, much more!
The MLB season is finally upon us! Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and Charlie Pallilo for the Stone Cold ‘Stros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday.
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