Twitter reacts to Madison Bumgarner’s seven-inning no-hitter

If a tree falls in a forest and nobody is there to hear it, does it make a sound?

If someone you loved died in front of you, but a copy was created down to the atomic level, would they be the same person and would you love them as much?

If a pitcher doesn't allow a hit in a seven-inning game as part of a doubleheader, does it count as a no-hitter?

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These are some of life's most important questions, the latter of which hadn't been asked until former Giant Madison Bumgarner allowed no hits in the second game of a seven-inning doubleheader Sunday. MLB and the Elias Sports Bureau haven't yet decided whether the Arizona Diamondbacks' 7-0 win over Atlanta is a no-hitter, according to Jon Heyman.

MLB and Elias are still discussing whether a 7-inning no-hitter is an official no-hitter. MLB seems to be in favor but it’s still not decided officially. So congrats MadBum! (I think)
— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) April 25, 2021

Seven-innings are a recent addition to MLB's schedule, a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic. Rather than risk teams end the season with imbalanced schedules or -- more importantly to MLB and the Players Association -- miss out on TV and gate revenue, MLB has utilized seven-inning games in doubleheaders to make up for postponements.

Bumgarner considers it a no-hitter, and so do the Diamondbacks.

Asked Madison Bumgarner if he considered this a no-hitter.

"I didn’t give up any hits today. I’m not in control of how many innings we’re playing."

So yes.
— John Shea (@JohnSheaHey) April 25, 2021

IT COUNTS IN OUR BOOK.

MADISON BUMGARNER HAS THROWN A NO-HIT GAME! pic.twitter.com/nRHNWX0DVV
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) April 25, 2021

MLB's official Twitter accounts stuck to calling it an "unofficial" no-hitter, trying to have some fun with a situation far above their social-media managers' pay grades.

Seven innings, NO HITS.

MadBum tosses the first unofficial 7-inning no-no. pic.twitter.com/GceKxNOVaT
— MLB (@MLB) April 25, 2021

https://twitter.com/Cut4/status/1386447765933334532

Fans, media and players reacting to Bumgarner's outing were largely aligned. Many tweeted that Bumgarner's seven-inning shutout should be considered a no-hitter since seven-inning games count the same for just about everything else.

MLB: "Seven inning games are legitimate, real baseball."

Bumgarner: *throws no-hitter*

MLB: "No, not like that."
— Joe Sheehan (@joe_sheehan) April 25, 2021

@MLB if dodgers get a championship in 60 games then Madison Bumgarner gets the a no hitter.
— Wally (@dishwasherwally) April 25, 2021

It blows my mind that MLB will only recognize Bumgarner’s game as a complete game shut out and not a no-hitter. If MLB recognizes these 7 inning doubleheaders for standings and stats the it should count the no hitter.
— Sal Mendonca (@Sal_Mendonca) April 25, 2021

So here’s the absurdity of this no no-hitter. Zac Gallen threw a one hitter in the first game and that counts as a one hitter. But the no hitter doesn’t count as a no hitter because baseball!
— Jayson Stark (@jaysonst) April 25, 2021

https://twitter.com/AndresPoontoz/status/1386461775596511234

Congrats to Bumgarner on his no-hitter that isn't counted by MLB because MLB doesn't think 7-inning games are real things after making 7-inning games a real thing.
— Razzball (@Razzball) April 25, 2021

The other team didn’t get any hits. I don’t care if it’s five, seven or nine innings. Celebrate it. https://t.co/6Wqy1tBrI8
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) April 25, 2021

https://twitter.com/BenHoffmanNYT/status/1386459782215831552

Some people probably are gonna say this doesn’t count because it was seven innings, but my braves had ONE hit between both games today so I’m just gonna say congrats to Bumgarner on the No-No 😭😭😭 https://t.co/tyfPeHvBox
— Code Red (@210Beard) April 25, 2021

Bumgarner should get the no-hitter. I mean, if you’re trying to make the game more exciting, don’t ruin the exciting shit when it happens.
— Jason Isbell (@JasonIsbell) April 25, 2021

RELATED: What we learned in Giants' series-clinching win over Marlins

Bumgarner is no stranger to absurd situations. He once competed in rodeos as "Mason Saunders" and also might or might not have dated a woman named Madison Bumgarner.