His Own Worst Enemy

If and when umpires are replaced by electronics, they might want to consider Angel Hernandez as a, if not the, prime cause.  Consider last week, when Hernandez threw out Astros’ manager A.J. Hinch for arguing balls and strikes in the bottom of the first inning.

 

Hinch didn’t like how Hernandez was calling pitches on starter Forrest Whitley in the top of the first, and he didn’t like how Hernandez started calling pitches on Astros’ hitters in the bottom of the inning.  Presto, change-o, away Hinch went after a wave of the hand by Hernandez.  Afterwards, Hinch used words like “unprofessional” and “arrogant” to describe Hernandez, a MLB umpire since 1991.  The ejection and comments cost Hinch an undisclosed fine and one-day suspension.

 

It’s safe to say that managers around baseball have reached the point where Angel Hernandez pushes their buttons already in spring training.  From accounts I read, Hernandez in an earlier meeting with Hinch admitting to making four mistakes a game, and Hinch yelled from the Houston dugout in the first inning that he’d already made that many.  This is not a good situation, for Hernandez or his crew or umpires as a group.

 

Hernandez comes off as someone profoundly unhappy.  MLB should consider some kind of retirement package before Hernandez necessitates the adoption of electronic eyes in blue by Opening Day.