Chipper Jones, the Hall of Fame third baseman for the Atlanta Braves, has once again taken aim at veteran umpire Doug Eddings, labeling him a “toxic combination” following a series of controversial calls during a recent Chicago Cubs vs. Detroit Tigers game. The Cubs secured a 6–1 victory, but the game was marred by questionable officiating, including a disputed third-strike call on Pete Crow-Armstrong and a contentious checked-swing decision involving Kyle Tucker.
Taking to social media platform X, Jones expressed his frustration, stating:
“Not only one of the worst umpires in the league for going on 2 decades… but consistently one of the most confrontational. Toxic combination!”
This isn’t the first time Jones has publicly criticized Eddings. In 2010, while recovering from knee surgery and on the disabled list, Jones was ejected from the Braves’ bench for arguing a call from the dugout during a game against the Florida Marlins. Their contentious relationship continued in 2013 when Eddings ejected Braves outfielder B.J. Upton for disputing a third-strike call, a decision that also drew Jones’.
Eddings, who has officiated in Major League Baseball since the late 1990s, has a history of controversial decisions. In June 2023, he reprimanded the Arizona Diamondbacks’ dugout during a game against the Washington Nationals, a move that was widely criticized.
Jones’ recent comments have reignited discussions about the standards of umpiring in Major League Baseball. Many fans and analysts are calling for increased accountability and consideration of automated systems, such as “robo-umps,” to ensure fairness and accuracy in officiating.
As the Braves prepare for their upcoming series against the Milwaukee Brewers, starting today, June 9, 2025, at 4:40 PM PDT, all eyes will be on the field to see if Eddings’ officiating continues to draw scrutiny.
