“Incompetence & Arrogance” - Rich Eisen Weighs in on MLB’s Ongoing Angel Hernandez Problem 

The craziest part to me is the complete lack of self awareness. Angel Hernandez had the audacity to sue MLB for racial discrimination rather than simply look at his horrific success rate on balls and strikes and realize that he’s the problem.

I can’t believe he lost his discrimination case, the blind should be protected by the ADA 😢

Angel Hernandez doesn't need eclipse glasses when watching the solar eclipse.

Hey!!.... It's Enrico Palazzo!

I can’t imagine being an ump calling 105mph fastballs with movement with a catcher framing the pitch. Tough job. Most do amazingly well at it. Then there’s Angel.

Tennis really has been doing this for fifteen freaking years now. They had this technology before the MLB allowed replay review of ANYTHING. Heck, cricket even has microphones that can pick up their equivalent of a foul tip - not as valuable in baseball, but could be handy on a dropped 3rd strike play. When it comes to replay review, US sports are in the stone age.

Rich been going off lately I love it

as long as Angel Hernandez has a job in the majors the commissioner deserves equal blame

Angel is literally trying to see how far he can push it now. "Fine, everyone thinks I suck? Haha fine I will suck even harder on purpose for the sheer joy of how much it pisses the rest of you off!". Its preeeety obvious.

Jomboy exposed him, he closes his eyes when the pitch comes in. He’s a flincher! 😂

This is a joke, just to cover my butt if somehow this actually happens. But if MLB made John Fisher disappear and framed Angel Hernandez for it it would kill two birds with one stone.

The MLB needs the ball/strike challenge system that they have in Triple A. It works great and it's fast. Why are they taking so long to implement it at the big league level?

I have to believe there are 5-6 AA-AAA Umpires who are more competent than Angel and ready for a move to the Majors.

Dunning Kruger comes to mind when discussing Angel

As an umpire myself for about 1200-13 games from LL to travel baseball, high school and JC ball, I cannot believe what I see from Hernandez. Most organizations on the higher levels have reviews on a regular basis. How is he still employed? He wouldn't be a good high school umpire, much less a professional baseball ump. Insane!

The mlbpa has to sue the umpires union. Not just Hernandez since he claims racism. Sue the entire union for impacting the outcome of the game.

Fans should never know the name of an umpire.

The MLB needs to do something, not just about Hernandez, but about the strike zone in general. We have the technology to make it better. The home plate umpire ruined a great Mets/Royals game yesterday. It was a pitcher's duel, and he called a pretty good game for the first 7 innings, and then in the 8th with no score he just shrunk the zone so much that it resulted in four walks and 2 Mets runs that completely changed the game. The Royals pitcher struggled a little but was making some good pitches clearly in the zone that were called balls. Not making excuses for the Royals - they can't expect to win a game when they only score one run - but they had a chance to win that game and it was taken from them.

To address the Bad Angel problem right now is a must in MLB. My short term fix is take away his behind the plate assignments. Do not allow him to call balls and strikes Only work him on the basepaths. Embarass him publicly. And when he screws up on first or second and third. Put him in the outfield. Mock him into oblivion publicly.

The funny part is that the Umpires Union keeps protecting Devil Hernandez while his actions are eventually going to lead to the extinction of umpires.

He has to be doing it on purpose at this point. I refuse to believe a guy that worked all the way up from AA to the MLB (even someone like Angel) would be THIS bad.

I feel pretty secure about my job, but compared to Angel Hernandez, I am on the hot seat. And Angel doesn't even try to get things right, he is just trolling everyone.

Do yall see how often he closes his eyes when the ball comes across homeplate. 😑

Angel Hernandez and John Fisher have tarnished MLB's reputation more than Pete Rose ever did.

When someone like Angel Hernandez actively and carelessly blows strike calls, it shows how counterproductive it is to be part of a union. The man makes Scott Foster look impartial during a Chris Paul game.

The late Eric Gregg would be enjoying the hell out of this.

I saw a AAA game this past weekend, and the ball/strike challenge system is fantastic. I was skeptical about the system because I didn’t realize it was a limited challenge system, like in football. Each team is allowed three incorrect ball/strike challenges per game. If you challenge and the call is overturned, you keep the challenges. I also really liked that the challenge had to come from the pitcher or batter (and possibly also the catcher?), and that it had to come IMMEDIATELY, like before the catcher threw the ball back to the pitcher. After seeing it in person, I am totally sold that MLB needs this immediately.

We now live in a country, where nothing can be done about the obvious, because of backlash. Not just sports. EVERYTHING!!!!!!!

Tennis transitioned to Cyclops with no issue. Baseball needs to move forward like this as well...

Can you imagine if the NFL had a chief umpire like this? It would be trending #1 until they got rid of him.

Go with an automated strike zone. The technology is there, use it. I want accurate ball/strike calls.

Thanks Rich for putting focus on this and on baseball in your shows. NBA is so painful to watch for me anymore with how soft it is and how many weak fouls are called now. I’m at a point in my life where I prefer baseball games and news over NBA - even playoffs. This is a MASSIVE topic that baseball needs to discuss and has been for a while. However knowing baseball and the people in charge nothing will happen this this guy. He will keep making horrible calls because that’s what he’s always done

He called a strike on a pitch that hit Spencer Torkleson of the Detroit Tigers as he was trying to get out of the way. "Not reviewable - he swung at it" after first calling it a foul tip which is reviewable.

Players should start making that signal when they would challenge a call. Get enough of those and the league could actually take notice.

Call me crazy but I actually make it a point to see a game if Angel is behind home plate.

I just started umpiring youth baseball games and when i finish the coaches meeting I always say to the coaches, "I'm no professional so I might make a mistake in the game but I'm no Angel Hernandez and you can count on me to have a good consistent strike zone." They love it 😱

In AAA the Pitcher, Catcher, or Batter can challenge the call, and it takes very little time to review. I witnessed this in Louisville at the Bats game and it worked great!!

Agreed Rich. Bring on the challenge system next season or after the All-Star break if possible

How can a dot and a 2-dimensional box accurately represent a three dimensional strike zone? And does the size of the box change depending on the size and stance of the batter? It alwas looks the same to me for each batter.

What would happen if both teams just walked off the field and refused to play when he is on the field as an umpire?

I don’t want a machine, I just don’t want the Angel Hernandez among the umpires gone from baseball

When you are universally acknowledged to be so bad but you still show up to work really says a lot about what kind of personality you have

Watched baseball for 40 years and never heard an umpires' name. Seems like a long time ago now.

It would be interesting to see the call accuracy on various counts. I think the strike zone expands and shrinks based on the count (and the score, and reputation of the pitcher and batter). On 3-0 counts, it seems impossible to throw a ball. On 0-2, hard to throw a strike.

I wish I had an union like these umpires that stick up for me even if I'm the most horrific incompetent employee

International Cricket has the technology that MLB should use. They include a sound detector and infrared sensors to tell if the ball hit the bat or a batter, as well as computer models that accurately tell if the ball would’ve hit the wicket. The issue with the MLB K-zones is that they incorrectly show the height of the strike zone at home plate rather than at both knees of the batter.

At this point, Angel is just trolling all of us.

Except the TV strike zone isn't accurate @@richeisen. The TV strike zone assumes the exact same height ratio from the knees to the top of the zone. That being said they use computer software to review the umpires and they should fire those who don't meet a certain standard

I love it lmao imagine what the legends went through with him back then 😂

I like how Rich isn't even going into quotes, potential solutions, discourse on options, just a whole segment about how a guy sucks lol. Well deserved

As someone who used to be an umpire for over a decade for Little League baseball games up through high school baseball games, we need electronic umpires. They realized this in tennis years ago, but for some reason baseball thinks they're above using technology. I did high school sectionals & regionals, I'm telling you it's _ridiculously_ hard to watch the ball at the speed the pitchers throw at that age... & that's usually only from 70mph to high 80s or occasionally low 90s. I couldn't imagine doing it for college or grown men in the majors throwing high 90s to low 100s

Is there a challenge limit?

Most fans understand close calls and mistakes from umpires and referees... they don't understand COMPLETE INCOMPETENCE by both an umpire and an entire league that ignores it!!

Based on the data, they need to force earlier retirement or at least have a promotion/relegation system for home plate umps based on accuracy performance. The best umps are under 40, the worst are over 50.

Rich Eisen has perfected the art of calling out bull crap in sport. He’s done it again.

Technologies important it keeps the game honest😊

I think they should fine the commissioner for blown calls. If it came out of the commissioner's paycheck they would fix it. True for the NFL too.

My Angel Hernandez story: I was at a Colorado Rockies game - back in the day - SF Giants were in town - Barry Bonds was in the outfield. My Dad was able to get me some great seats right off third base - third row. A few innings in a simple hit and a quick out to end the inning. Angel Hernandez was the third base umpire. The player tosses the ball to Angel Hernandez as he heads back to the dugout. Angel Hernandez, ball in hand walks over to a Father and young son in the row infront of me. Angel Hernandez asks the kid if he plays baseball . Kid: yes, but I am not very good. Angel Hernandez: hands the kid the game ball and says "Well you could be an umpire ..." and started to walk back towards third base. At that moment I replied loud enough for Angel Hernandez to hear : "Of course he would have to be legally blind". Angel Hernandez turned and laughed. Half way through the inning I saw Angel Hernandez shoulders bouncing up and down... he turned and pointed at me laughing and shaking his head.

Greg Maddox made the HOF getting those, way, outside strikes. Part of the reason why i dont watch baseball anymore. The game should not depend on the umpires.

I don't follow baseball that much but have been following the Angel Hernandez issue of missed calls on balls and strikes. I've come to the conclusion that if you are the pitcher then Angel is your best friend. Conversely if you are the batter then Angel is your worst enemy.

I think Angel Hernandez should file a federal lawsuit if mlb try’s to reprimand him yall are abusing him

This is the one thing in sports where no one will argue that replay is a demerit(no pace of play delay, no split second bang bang plays, etc...) literally just watch the broadcast and you will know if its strike or ball.

When it comes to pitching, there’s absolutely no excuse to not have a robot umpire at this point. It’s not even so much about incompetence as it is about the fact that these balls are getting thrown filthier and filthier every year.

This is why we need an automatic strike zone now! Why is it taking so long?

In the Ranger game, Angel wanted to go home and that's why he called those balls strikes. He's a sucker for catchers 'framing' pitches and that's why he calls balls strikes too. He's made bad calls all over the field, but his ego prevents him from doing right by the players. I think he's insecure and over compensates. He should be umpiring little league.

When bad calls are made, we can live with and accept one or two may be made...it's been part of baseball forever. BUT, when it's this bad, when it is so far off the plate, soooo many times...it allows the possibility to consider Umpire may be on the take and changing outcomes in the sports betting world.

That Wyatt Langford atrocity should have been the last straw.

Rich - I live in Albuquerque, home of the triple-A Isotopes and we have the ABS for every series. We absolutely LOVE it. It should be at the Majors. I have been told the Umpire union for the Majors doesn't want it because then they will be held accountable or embarrassed in public by their bad calls. There needs to be some way to pressure MLB to get this moving. The same with Angel - he sucks.

I've never met a umpire who wasn't arrogant. I think it's a job requirement.

We're talking about automating the calling of calls and strikes. It's like, "We can't stand the way THIS guy is screwing up the job, so we're going to make a change for every one." There's an easier way. The MLBUA steps up and says, "THIS guy is not allowed behind the plate anymore." He can ump, but he's going to be in other positions. And, if he can't handle that, help him, retire him or let him go. And then don't treat any other umpire differently. In baseball, as in everywhere else in life, hold folks responsible for their actions. "The machine did it." or "I'm just following orders." stopped being acceptable somewhere after second grade.

Umpires have become the best advocates for not having umpires

If his last name was O’Leary, he would have been fired years ago. Pretending this isn’t the reason makes you part of the problem.

The root problem is obviously Angel Hernandez. There are two other parties that contribute to Hernandez’ incompetence: the MLB Umpires Union which represents Hernandez and promotes his inability to umpire. The other problem is the commissioner of MLB who doesn’t seem to care about the integrity of MLB and refuses to do anything about it.

When the players refuse to play they will correct the situation. Individual players should file suit against him.

Can't wait to hear his thoughts on Aaron Boone's ejection earlier today. That umpire (name escapes me at the moment) was just oozing arrogance and hubris today.

Pay him off, buy out his contract, give him an office job, get him off the field. This is not an unsolvable problem.

If he has to be an umpire stick Hernandez in the outfield and never let him behind HP again.

I’d say just limit the number of challenges to 2 and you keep your last challenge as long as you get it right or something like that

NFL and MLB will never go to a fully technology based officiating, they WANT to have the power to influence.

NFL fans: the referees are making bad calls that affect the outcome of the game! Angel Hernandez: hold my beer

Love that rich still gives him the benefit of the doubt, because being a ref in pretty much any sport is a really tough job, you have to make split second decisions that then millions of people get to see in slow mo and criticize the decision you made in that moment, but yeah someone this atrocious at their job should not get to keep it, what especially gets me is his lack of self awareness that he’s bad

Strike zones are 3 dimensional. Those boxes superimposed over the plate are 2 dimensional. The "dot" is 1 dimensional, and I believe shows where the catcher caught the ball. A pitch could catch the very front outside corner of the plate, belt high. That would mean it was a strike. But due to the motion of the pitch, the catcher could be catching it maybe 3 inches outside of the plate, making it look like a ball. Any automated system would have to capture the ball from at least 2 angles. Directly above the plate to see if it crossed any part of the plate, and a side swing angle to see the position of the ball relative to the batter's stance. Because those are the components of the strike zone.

The game has suffered long enough. I hate the idea of a machine deciding strikes, it won't be perfect, but at least the batters and pitchers can depend on day-to-day consistency of the strike zone. That has always been the most important aspect of balls and strikes, just be consistent so it's fair to everyone. I hate the high inside and high outside strike getting called now, but hitters must adapt. And, pitchers may not get the outside corner extended with 2 strikes as they have forever, but they will adapt. I'm sick over what has happened to the game i loved as kid and played thru college.

Speaking of tennis, when a serve is out of the box you hear that high pitched whine sound. Why can't we just do this for balls and strikes in baseball?

You should include @Jomboymedia on this. He articulates this sort of thing well.

The problem is, players will want to review every single pitch.

He is no "Angel". The players and fans should address him as "Satan"!

I’ve been to two AAA games this year. If a strike is challenged and it’s a ball, the screen gives you a measurement as to how far outside of the strike zone it was.

That system is good but could you imagine how long a game will be with hernandez is behind the plate.

Besides Hernandez incompetence, how about we swing the freaking pine!!!!!

Why has MLB tolerated Angel’s poor judgment?

this is ridiculous, balls and strikes should just be called by the technology, and everything should be reviewable. It makes the game more honest and legitimate.

Thank you, Rich, for such entertaining and informative shows. I try to follow them wherever possible, albeit via RU-vid in the UK where I live. Angel Hernandez is an embarrassment to the MLB. I will be volunteering at the London Series in June 2024 and really hope that this clown will not have been invited to officiate.

Angel Hernandez is an MLB op, to help usher in the technology. Brilliant plan!

The umpires, not named Angel Hernandez, should be furious with Hernandez!!! He is single-handedly pushing for the umpires to lose their "jobs"!!!

The Jets haven't taken a snap in 2024 and Rich is at this level of frustration. Woo Saa Rich, you're gonna need it.

It’s about time someone calls attention to this problem!

"I'm not saying we do that for every pitch..." - unless Angel is behind the plate.

bad idea to have them tap their head for challenging pitches...that will just lengthen games even more...the best way is to have either the plate light up green for a ball and red for a strike and if there is contact then it would be blue just like the way they do it online with the graphic view of the game...you could also have a light indicator for the ump with the ball or strike on his counter or a third way even is to have an ear piece and just tell the ump what it is and he can bellow it out like before...this will not delay the game and every ball/strike will be accurate...

I agree 100% but I wonder if Rich will be just as hard on NFL refs who have been getting worse every year...or is the NFL untouchable?