Longtime MLB umpire Angel Hernandez missed much of this season after dealing with a medical matter. But since his return in late July, he’s somehow gotten worse behind the plate.
Sunday’s game was no exception.
Hernandez was working home plate for the final game of the Braves’ series with the Giants, and it quickly became apparent to both pitching staffs that Hernandez was calling any pitch somewhat near the outside corner as a strike. It led to some ridiculous missed calls on the afternoon, but you have to appreciate how Braves play-by-play announcer Brandon Gaudin called the expanded strike zone in the moment.
"As Fried fires a strike near the outside corner…" 🤣🔊
Ángel Hernández special. pic.twitter.com/klrqNU2qDr
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 20, 2023
“As Fried fires a strike near the outside corner,” he said.
That was how Hernandez’s day pretty much went as he was consistently calling that outside pitch a strike.
Umpire: Angel Hernandez
Final: Giants 4, Braves 3#SFGiants // #ForTheA#SFvsATL // #ATLvsSFMore stats for this game 👇https://t.co/c2RI5HncO7 pic.twitter.com/0GpW2vLUa4
— Umpire Scorecards (@UmpScorecards) August 21, 2023
And honestly, it seemed much worse than the scorecard saw it.
stopped counting how many pitches ángel hernández missed today but it was an awful lot pic.twitter.com/xRELHwcas6
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) August 20, 2023
MLB fans also had thoughts on Hernandez’s performance behind the plate.
This was how Twitter reacted
“Near” the Outside Corner…. Classic! https://t.co/br53rONPZW
— Matthew Pilewski (@KingFish626) August 20, 2023
Everyone know he’s awful at his job and yet he continues to be behind the plate https://t.co/5qF4eUumbe
— Geoff Schwartz (@geoffschwartz) August 21, 2023
As an avid lover of baseball, the game will never be what it could with guys like this still allowed behind the plate. https://t.co/MUdvpM9VLl
— Lucas Davis (@sportsbyLD) August 21, 2023
"The strike zone is merely a suggestion" https://t.co/BuRt4Bt2Vd
— Trav (@Trav_2393) August 21, 2023
Announcing Gold! Umpire DQ. https://t.co/SfXGsFP3AI
— Guy Gavriel Kay (@guygavrielkay) August 21, 2023
1997 NLCS Eric Gregg: "Dude, that pitch was outside." https://t.co/y9dcYfl6Bt
— Brian Crozier (@BriCrozier) August 20, 2023
These umps are just embarrassing at this point https://t.co/BqOBffOkZR
— Gomzzy (@Gomzzy_) August 20, 2023
Come on. That’s closer to Buckhead than it is the strike zone. https://t.co/BTYsebZdTq
— Damon Bruce (@DamonBruce) August 20, 2023
“we need to keep the human element in the game”
the human element: https://t.co/18BJULLSIP
— Jenslag (@jenslaang) August 20, 2023
There’s just no escaping Angel Hernandez at this point.
