Angel Hernandez, MLB. (USA Today)
Every game Angel Hernandez umpires is a show for the fans, and not for a good reason. The Houston Astros and Washington Nationals found this out the hard way.
Hernandez is the best argument we have for an electronic strike zone, or robot umpires as some may call it. While the umpires’ union continues to come to his defense, Hernandez has proven time and time again that he is not an MLB-caliber ump.
It’s not that hard to figure out.
In Sunday’s game between the Astros and Nationals, Hernandez put his stamp on the matchup right away. With Houston up to bat, Angel confused us all.
Okay, so we know Hernandez has a high strike zone today. As long as he’s consistent…
Excuse me?! That’s a solid three inches off the plate.
Angel Hernandez doing Angel Hernandez things
Unlike Joe West, who rode off into the sunset and started a podcast, Hernandez has shown no signs of retirement just yet. Instead, he seems content being the bane of every fanbase’s existence, and perhaps the greatest argument yet for some kind of electronic strike zone interjection.
‘Robot umps’ is consistently an overstatement, and likely wouldn’t even be a conversation point were umpires such as Hernandez not forced behind the plate in a rotation of sorts. Hernandez might be a good ump in other aspects. Is his leadership appreciated as a crew chief? Sure! Would he make a good first or third base umpire? I don’t know, but maybe!
Home plate is not where Hernandez belongs, period.