Major-league umpire Bill Miller has experienced the pitfalls of a hot mic before, but that didn’t prevent him from getting caught again during a Saturday spring training game in Scottsdale, Ariz.
With the San Francisco Giants leading the Cleveland Guardians 3-0 in the fourth inning, Giants left-hander Robbie Ray faced Guardians third baseman Alex Mooney with two outs and runners on first and second. After Mooney took an 0-2 sinker that Miller called a ball, Giants catcher Patrick Bailey tapped the top of his helmet to signal for a challenge.
“San Francisco is challenging the ‘ball’ call,” Miller announced to a crowd of 8,310 at Scottsdale Stadium. “Please be a strike.”
The home plate umpire got caught on hot mic saying “please be a strike” 😭😭 pic.twitter.com/U71E64xOYT
— IcyVert (@IcyVert) March 21, 2026
Miller seemingly realized his microphone was on as he was saying that last word, and appeared to cringe. Bailey jerked his head back toward Miller and started laughing. Miller’s call turned out to be correct, as the pitch was determined to be 0.3 inches below the strike zone. Mooney ultimately struck out swinging two pitches later on a changeup in a game the Giants won 10-7.
Since umpires are graded on accuracy, it stands to reason Miller would’ve preferred to see Bailey get his comeuppance after cameras determined the pitch was indeed a ball. Except this was an exhibition game played in triple-digit heat during the last weekend of Cactus League play, and a strike would have ended the inning.
Though heard by far fewer people, the scene in Scottsdale resembled one last season in Boston, where the Minnesota Twins challenged Miller’s call on a play at the plate in a game against the Boston Red Sox on May 2, 2025.
Jarren Duran tried to score from first base on Rafael Devers’ base hit to center. Miller called Duran safe, but video evidence of Ryan Jeffers tagging Duran after catching Carlos Correa’s relay throw was enough to overturn the call.
Homeplate umpire Bill Miller cursed himself out on the hot mic after getting a call wrong after review 😭 pic.twitter.com/OrAXusJa42
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) May 3, 2025
Miller reacted in a profane yet self-deprecating way. The only problem, other than getting the call wrong? His reaction was heard throughout Fenway Park.
The automated ball-strike system, which will go into effect during major-league regular-season games for the first time in less than a week, will take some getting used to for players and umpires alike. Baseball’s instant-replay review system, mostly used to determine calls on the bases and whether batted balls are fair or foul, did as well.
For the first several years of Miller’s umpiring career — he made his major-league debut in 1997 and became a crew chief in 2014 — he didn’t have to worry about a call getting overturned or having to explain the result of a replay review to an entire stadium. Though one can question Miller’s mastery of the microphone, one has to give him credit for on-field honesty.