ESPN’s Jeff Passan on How Much Longer MLB Will Have to Suffer Angel Hernandez | The Rich Eisen Show

ESPN MLB Insider Jeff Passan and Rich Eisen discuss how soon fans and players can expect a balls & strikes challenge system to arrive in the Major Leagues to hold umpires like the notorious Angel Hernandez more accountable.
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[@nick81885]

The fact that we even know an umpire's name is a problem already.

[@Stormsfury777]

The only good ump I know that did great was Pat Hoberg from the World Series Perfect Game 100% Balls/Strikes correctly called

[@DisAccountizaMiracle]

Exactly. Amazing umps should be ghosts to the avg fan. Although I did like them releasing the perfect game by an umpire Pat Hoberg. And he did it in the World Series!

[@tonyjanney1654]

Absolutely right on. Ron Luciano and Cowboy Joe West stopped being umpires and inserted themselves into the game, IMHO to the detriment of the game. We fans are not there to watch the umps/refs perform. We are there to see the game played by the players. The umps/refs are there to ensure the rules are followed and the rules are equally enforced. When fans know the umpires by name, the ump has done something to distract from the game and call attention to himself. That hurts the game.

[@DeanHolmes-i2l]

Actually that's not true. John McSherry, Dutch Reinhardt, Emmitt Ashford and Bruce Fromming were highly respected and names well known by players, broadcasters and fans alike. And Hernandez has done nothing to change people's opinion of him.

[@PapaEli-pz8ff]

Not always

[@dardell2001]

Angel is doing this on purpose now. He's still pissed that no one wants him in the WS. This is not just incompetence but spite imo

[@whoisbrucewayne17]

You're not wrong. He's going to continue being trash until he retires. Which I think is another 3 decades. He's not that old and the umpire association has his back for some weird reason

[@spitzer1113]

I'm with you. It has to be on purpose at this point. He's doing this to become "infamous" or he is doing it to spite the league over his perceived slights towards him from the MLB.

[@somejoe7777]

I agree with Jeff Passan that the automated ball/strike system is needed in MLB, whether automatic completely, or challenge-based. However, that is NOT the answer to the Angel Hernandez problem. The answer to deal with someone who has consistently demonstrated over several years that he is bad at his job, it that you fire him and do not allow him to perform poorly at the job anymore. It's beyond a joke at this point. Any of the other 7 billion people in the world, having demonstrated that they're this bad at their job, would have been fired long ago. The "Angel Hernandez problem" actually boils down to the MLBUA failing to do THEIR job.

[@rehoby]

I have said the same thing and believe it to be true. If MLB had any guts they'd just fire him. The data supports it.

[@SUPERBUZZED]

Anybody who isn't in on our false system/earth knows this is just another staged precursor to robots being the new 'enforcement' to the game and beyond 🤦‍♂.

[@LetsDIYIt]

The mere fact that Angel Hernandez has basically become a household name says it all. An UMPIRE that everyone knows his name......

[@MrRogers1219]

Joe West fits into that category as well...

[@LetsDIYIt]

@@MrRogers1219 I'll have to respectfully disagree. Joe West is a generic name that if you say to most casual baseball fans, won't really know. But they ALL know who Angel Hernandez is

[@MrRogers1219]

@@LetsDIYItMaybe Joe West wasn't a household name, but "Cowboy Joe" did things to make himself more of a personality than he should have been...

[@LetsDIYIt]

​@@MrRogers1219 I won't disagree with that. His level of incompetence isn't on the same level as Angel's, and likely the reason he is not as well known. The die hard baseball fans know West's name, but not most of the casual ones (I believe)

[@MrRogers1219]

@@LetsDIYItfair point.

[@DavidConstantin-d1d]

He was behind the plate tonight in the Milwaukee game. He called a balk on Wade Miley on a pick off attempt to 1st. Miley is a lefty, so there was no way he could determine Miley balked. The 1st base umpire was is perfect position to call a possible balk, he didn’t because there was no balk. Hernandez continues to show he doesn’t belong in the major leagues.

[@jamesfink1871]

We need a South Park episode with Angel Hernandez

[@michaelcintron3208]

Oh god this is perfect

[@williamgullett5911]

Great idea

[@MenverMan]

He doesn't have tegrity

[@jasonfullerton7763]

​@@MenverManOr maybe he has a little too much tegrity right before the games.

[@laudanum669]

@@MenverMan He doesn't have tegrity, but you must "Respect his authority"!

[@theGentlemanCaller73]

One of the craziest things I've ever heard was "interpretation of the strike zone," as if it were a piece of art.

[@bobcarp1239]

“A lot of jazz cats are blind, but they can play the piano like nobody's business. I'd like to put a piano in front of Angel Hernandez and see what happens.” - Creed Bratton

[@jimstephens7518]

@bobcarp1239 A. Hernandez would outplay Art Tatum.

[@NomahLovesYah]

But just to be clear….You do NOT want to see him topless, right? 😂😂😂

[@goatindaruffness79]

​@@NomahLovesYahtapas swiss miss

[@tayloranderson254]

Man that’s a good quote 😂😂😂

[@stevencooke6451]

He would call "strike".

[@codypagels1598]

He alleged racial discrimination as the reason why he wasn’t getting selected to officiate playoff games, and in the official hearing MLB made statement that basically said “Nah, you just suck at what you do”. Knowing that his suckitude is forever a matter of public record is pretty funny.

[@lordrayden3045]

And that decisions held

[@jamesknapp64]

And the judge was like "yeah he isn't good enough to ump playoffs"

[@scotttild]

Now it’s all out of spite because he lost that case.

[@JestLife3722]

So, my question is that if your boss knows you suck, how do you still have that specific occupation?

[@mariogutierrez6960]

Angel Hernandez must have Polaroids of the MLB commish’s wife doing ungodly acts

[@Kingofthepirates-si1gd]

Or….and hear me out…..he’s in a union. MLB squashed ump pay and union got them permanent jobs instead

[@cheechdubinsky6709]

Commie union

[@elasmojones]

I like the ungodly acts things better

[@JoseRodrigues016]

@@Kingofthepirates-si1gd or... they don't want to outcast umpires, regardless of how bad they are, because you'll open pandora's box. Once you kick one out, fans will find very quickly their next target. After all, refereeing in major sports is horrible in general.

[@gunwrencher1566]

I think it's the Commish doing things.

[@NickAdams-r8h]

Everyone is being way too mean to angel hernandez, he’s an inspiration to blind people everywhere that they too can be an MLB umpire😂

[@dfloriza]

He might offend some blind people, honestly

[@glasshalffull2930]

OMG!!! Great one! Thank you for some needed comic relief 🥲

[@ThePaleoJunkie]

I wish they talked more about the Angel problem, and not just the strike zone problem.

[@worthplayingfor2197]

yea he has more issues than just the zone

[@crocodile1313]

Yep, funny isn't it. It kind of feels like even journalists don't want to address the problem with horrible officials like Hernandez and some of the absurd officiating in the NFL.

[@thefourhorsemen91]

And why does that guy look like an AI Ronald Reagan?

[@Jitterzz]

Well you can tell Passan just didn’t want to actually answer the question. He either got scared or is getting paid to not have an opinion.

[@joegarrick2760]

Thing is, there really isn't a strike zone problem. Everyone knows nobody is perfect. I accept that even the best umps might miss a call now and then. To me, that's just part of the game. The problem is when you have guys like Hernandez that are wrong so often it almost makes the game unwatchable. I saw video of that at bat they talked about. Three pitches in the opposite side batter's box were called strikes. If you're so bad that you can't see that those pitches weren't just wide, but clearly, plainly, obviously wide, you don't belong behind the plate. Now we have to get a robo ump to fix basically just a couple of umps that can't balls and strikes for sh!t.

[@MrEsMysteriesMagicks]

Angel Hernandez serves an incredibly useful function for MLB. He's made us forget C. B. Bucknor. Let's give him credit where credit is due.

[@scottyjbd]

It was only 5 years or so ago that I first heard of Angel Hernandez, so there’s plenty of room and time for others to float to the surface

[@MrEsMysteriesMagicks]

@@scottyjbd C.B. Bucknor was voted worst umpire by MLB players two years in a row around 2006-7. He surfaced awhile ago and he's still around.

[@KOHF34]

C.B. has actually had some quality games as of late. His recent one with the Twins/Tigers had 96% of the balls and strikes called correctly, and those he missed were actually fairly borderline.

[@senorpepper3405]

Joe west?

[@lindsayseal8504]

Toronto had Hernandez for the last game of their opening road trip and returned home and got Bucknor the very next day. If that doesn't throw your perception of the strike zone off nothing will.

[@Noledad77]

They haven't gotten rid of Angel Hernandez because they don't WANT to get rid of Angel Hernandez. If they did, they'd have to look at CB Bucknor and a handful of others as well. They don't want the backlash from the umpire's union, so they look the other way.

[@jodosh]

This is the real answer. As bad as Hernandez is (incredibly), he occationasially is a VERY good umpire out in the field. I dont recall ever thinking CB was doing a good job.

[@purtis99]

Bottom 10 rated each year should be given the choice of either the minors of termination..

[@David-su1rm]

Don’t think umpires can be fired according to union

[@doug4036]

I think it’s even more nefarious than that. If the fans are screaming and yelling at bad umps the heat is off of the MLB front office for their own horrible management of the game.

[@nicholaswopperer5092]

@@jodoshyou can’t keep a job when your boss says occasionally you do your job well

[@trapdoorfloyd]

Pete Rose got banned but an umpire is throwing balls and strikes and getting away with it ? WTF

[@jballday3668]

Pete rose got banned bc of his own stupidity of gambling on games but with this whole situation with angel Hernandez…well there truly MLB can’t really do anything bc of the whole lawsuit that Hernandez sent

[@joegarrick2760]

@@jballday3668 - Maybe so, but Ty Cobb nearly killed a guy at the ballpark, and he's still in Cooperstown. Make the punishment fit the crime. Rose never bet on his own team, and there's no arguing that he was one of the best to ever take the field.

[@fademejake]

I fully expect Hernandez to award a batter two free throws due to the catcher having a skate in the crease at some point this season.

[@sandmanlogan5ran149]

My life would be complete if that happened...

[@brendonneely9456]

You mean award the batting team a touchdown followed by the batter getting two free throws.

[@moose7454]

Also a 5 yard head start going to first

[@MapleTreeatdawn]

Gooooooaaaalllllllll, as he holds up both arms on a ball hit over the fence.

[@StephanieHettinger-si9ur]

LOL!! I hear you!! With this fool,anything is possible.

[@benmonroe_the_1]

I’m pretty sure that just about every single person who clicked on this vid wanted to hear Jeff tell us how long fans would have to suffer Angel Hernandez continuing to have a job in MLB, not when automated balls-strikes would be implemented.

[@camschuster5947]

Its going to take both teams to stay in the dugout at start time while he sits at home plate all by himself…

[@25pinstripes]

Thats....low key genius

[@vw8886]

Probably take the fans boycotting.

[@camschuster5947]

@@25pinstripes 😎

[@aaronfig26]

this. its gonna take a pitcher refusing to take the mound.

[@billbeliakoff5589]

It would be interesting to see how MLB would handle that. Two teams forfeiting the same game wouldn't work because of the possibility of it messing up the standings.

[@lelabotoxique]

Well, they talked about the "strike zone" problem. Didn't talk much about the Angel Hernandez problem though.

[@michaelconger6420]

It's bad for baseball when both teams are focused on the fact that Angel is on the umpiring crew. Neither team should have that thought going into a series, or the pre conceived notion that his calls are going to be bad, yet here we are.

[@lightingbolt8148]

Exactly when they know he’s on the crew they dread.

[@user-bl6ne3hc6n]

Baseball is almost 200 years old, it's ben that way sence day 1, you always adjust to different umps, how about we swing the pine, and stop looking at a bunch of pitches, if it's close call it, and get this game moving, an ol saying, " Swing the pine Meat,"", ps. Angel has to go,😅😅

[@adamm2787]

@@user-bl6ne3hc6n Well when the pitch is in the opposite batters box there really isn't much you can do about it.

[@user-bl6ne3hc6n]

@@adamm2787 move up over the plate and throw your bat at it, 🤣

[@adamm2787]

@@user-bl6ne3hc6n Yeah because that's how things work.

[@TheMETSMETS]

angel hernandez is the benchmark for bad umpires, he's what other umpires are compared to whenever they make bad calls. he's the micheal jordan, the babe ruth of bad umpires.

[@krishisel5316]

Jeff gave Angel a little too much credit at the end there. Remember when he had multiple calls at 1st base overturned in a playoff game. He could get 13 in a row wrong and the 14th would be a good bet.

[@scotttild]

4

[@mamilx6607]

I’d love to see that challenge system on ball/strike instituted just to see batters and pitcher continuously embarrassing Hernandez all game.

[@jeffgaydoscik2504]

Every umpire has their own definition of the strike zone and that's the problem. Using the auto system fixes that and will speed the game along.

[@JestLife3722]

I agree. A strike is a strike....it should be uniform throughout the league. An umpire should not have the discretion to change the rules.

[@bshaker1188]

It’s a total union thing. Angel’s been around too long unfortunately to get fired over performance. MLB should be pushing for him to take his retirement as soon as possible, in fact every umpire should have to retire at 60. That should be included in the next collective bargaining agreement.

[@vw8886]

There still has to be a baseline/bottom-line for performance.

[@ronpeacock9939]

If they did.. the umpiring would get worse.. too many are already over that age... Somebody brought that up with my HS association... that coach got informed that if they did that, they'd have about 1/10th of the number of umpires left.. and they are already short handed... MLB should get a bookie to claim under oath that he's paying Angel to shave points.... then they could just lifetime Ban him like they did Rose and Jackson.

[@mc76]

A union's job is to represent its members. If Manfred and his minions had any balls, they would take on the union--and they would win. But they don't have the stomach for it.

[@Real28]

This. I've worked in Unions when I was in my early 20s and I saw guys do things that would get your fired by OSHA, and they WOULD be fired, on the spot, then have their job back within 3 days because "Union" Unions now don't do what they're were designed to do. Now they're huge cash cows that promote laziness and shitty workers by allowing employees to get away with murder, so long as you pay your dues. Teamsters is one of the worst. Saw all of it first hand.

[@jimosborne2]

@@mc76 well, the US Supreme Court has a bunch of elderly people ( no union) and both candidates for President are elderly and losing their marbles ( no union) and no one forces lawyers, doctors, accountants, dentists, plumbers or electricians to retire. So it’s not only a union problem. MLB apparently decided it doesn’t want responsibility for monitoring officials.

[@noelv1976]

Knowing Angel Hernandez, he’d still call those pitches a strike no matter how many times he’s been overturned 😂

[@richjg3049]

Passan refused to answer the question. What a journalist

[@patjablonski9739]

Because he's a communist who loves unions. As such, this type of person shouldn't be allowed to cover baseball. Not to mention that automated strike zones are extremely lame.

[@willch.2259]

​@@patjablonski9739he's definitely not a communist, what is this, the 60s all of a sudden? Get a grip

[@whiskeybuddha1995]

@patjablonski9739 I usually go to Reddit to find mind numbingly stupid comments but I was able to get it right here from you. Thanks for saving me the effort. Lol you called Jeff passan a communist 🤣🤣🤣🤣.

[@jimdaily737]

Pat jablonski coming in hot with the absolute hottest smooth brain takes

[@mightya]

@@patjablonski9739As a matter of fact labor unions made this country an economic superpower and solidified the middle class. Communism is the antithesis of unionized labor. Put down your orange kool-aid.

[@WikedEvo]

The challenge system in the minors is amazing. I got to see it for the first time this past weekend. Its takes litteral seconds and is up on the screen for all to see. Very close pitches with only 1 that got upheld.

[@jameskeller4297]

The challenge system is silly. Since the automated call takes precedence just use the automated call in the first place.

[@clarkgimenez9576]

The challenge system isn’t silly if you want to keep some form of human element in the game.

[@jackharrist1078]

The only way I can stay sane watching Angel Hernandez ruin games is by reminding myself that every horrible call he makes gets us closer and closer to robo umps.

[@athrunzala798]

Saw a joke that he must own stock in the company that makes the robo umps

[@richiegarcia4]

I'm against many of recent innovations in baseball, but I can not wait for the robo umps.

[@rancidcrawfish]

All they have to do is get rid of umpires that can't make the right call a % of the time. But instead your nerds want robot umps smh

[@richiegarcia4]

@@rancidcrawfish Seems simple enough, but getting rid of umpires is actually very difficult, which is why we still have Angel.

[@groupersti]

@@rancidcrawfish Hernandez will be the last umpire standing..He knows it...The more they scream and hollar at him...The more he gets off on it.

[@5100yes]

If the pitch was outside the country , Angel would call it a strike .

[@capncmbk]

I'm just glad there is a forum like this where finally someone is holding umpires accountable. We're tired of the bad calls. We have automation. Let's do automation. Then 100 years from now we can reminisce about how once upon a time we had "umpires" and it was painful.

[@johnniewalker2447]

What has ruined baseball is the "strike zone" box on TV

[@apatheticallyconcerned6574]

No

[@PatrickStahlitrm]

Does the current tech check the full strike zone or just the front of the strike zone? And does it recalculate the height of the strike zone on each pitch?

[@capncmbk]

@@PatrickStahlitrm I'm sure it does in the minors. I don't think it does in the majors on the "rectangle."

[@bradm4493]

How can Passan say with such confidence that if the first one was challenged and overturned that Angel Hernandez wouldn’t have called the next two strikes? He’s giving him a lot of credit.

[@allanbird3725]

Passan's statement lacked any supporting evidence.

[@jeffreyharris3440]

According to the AAA rules, teams get three challenges per game. If an Umpire's call is overturned, then the team, then that challenge number doesn't go down. If Hernandez gets overturned on the first pitch, then he would look very stupid immediately if he continued to get corrected on every pitch. If the missed call was unintentional, then Hernandez would "learn" that that pitch going to that location is a strike or whatever. If feedback is immediate, humans learn better than if the feedback is given potentially hours later. If the missed call was intentionally called wrong, then Hernandez would look like a fool repeatedly making the wrong call and the computer telling him he is wrong. In any case, the situation is absurd. The umpires themselves should have cleaned house long, long ago. I don't even follow baseball except for occasionally watching Jomboy. I might be able to name seven or eight baseball players in all of MLB. The fact that I know Angel Hernandez's name indicates that something is very, very wrong.

[@bradm4493]

@@jeffreyharris3440 did you ever see the video of like 5 calls at 1st by Hernandez being challenged and overturned in the same game? I’d have no reason to believe he’d make the adjustment. He’s just lost out there.

[@jeffreyharris3440]

@@bradm4493 Thank you. I did not see that video. If that is the case, I'll retract what I said, because clearly Hernandez has serious issues of some sort. He should not be calling games - especially at the highest level. But again, I don't watch games any more, I don't buy tickets, and won't buy merchandise.

[@bradm4493]

@@jeffreyharris3440don’t get me wrong. I understand your point and the logic. That would make sense for most. He’s just so bad. I mean last year when Schwarber blew a gasket and told him you suck and have been blowing calls high, low, inside, outside and for both teams..that’s as bad as it gets. Schwarber was representing both teams 😂

[@whimsicalwizardman409]

It’d be cool to see home plate illuminate if the ball goes over it at all. It may also be more entertaining for the average fan?

[@Edwardsjm]

Something similar will be in place by 2026. Ball and strike challenge replay

[@Messy_Jesse]

@4:49 Just a box? No Full cube of the irregular pentagon? I used to pitch and aim for the back corners of the plate. If it doesn't get thrown through the box but touches the corner, I wouldn't get the call? Seems like they need to include the entire plate , not just the front 2 corners... Am I wrong?

[@kingpiniv]

There are a lot of close calls in baseball games. Angel has a unique talent to always be on the wrong side of every close call. It's a very strange talent.

[@redhurricane24]

If any one of us were being this horrible at our 9-5 jobs like Angel Hernandez, we'd be riding the unemployment line.

[@Jackmerius_Tacktheritrix5733]

He actually has middle of the pack accuracy stats on the umpire scorecard

[@petenojd]

Passan should be a politician - an absolute masterclass in avoiding the question posed to him.

[@arsenal-slr9552]

He answered it. Automated strike-zones

[@mrrk2u]

Yep...Remember he works at ESPN

[@Mike-gq3sq]

@@arsenal-slr9552 The question wasn't "how do we fix balls and strikes", the question was about Angel Hernandez and Angel screws up everything, not just balls and strikes. Jeff really avoided talking about the union for the most part which is really the core reason Angel still has a job.

[@JaneSmith0709]

I was thinking the same thing! I don't know who this guy is but he's a horrible interviewee!

[@rydawg7629]

He refused to criticize him. Says a lot.

[@evanmcelfresh3876]

I'm just loving the OK Computer album and the NES in the background. I know nothing about Jeff Passan, but I love him already.

[@nathaniellim9928]

unpopular suggestion: anytime Angel is behind the plate, the catcher/pitcher and batter should let one thru. Call is getting switched up; call it missing a sign; but twice a game, every game he fucks up, he deserves to get 95+MPH fastball to the chest protector. From BOTH teams

[@vintvarner16]

I'm not one to violence but one of these days a player is going to lose it and physically and go after Angel, suspension be damned. I can't be in favor of that but I totally understand

[@BallparkFranks7]

He says if the challenge system was in place that Angel would have called the other pitches balls too. I think that’s giving Angel more credit than he deserves. It’s just as likely that he’d have had 3 straight calls overturned.

[@rwmorey71]

How Hernandez is still employed is a mystery.

[@lender3000]

Just look at Joe Biden, and that's your answer.

[@iancampbell4394]

@@lender3000 Biden got elected. Hernandez is still there because of unions.

[@flyjarrett]

Umpires union.

[@Ski_Unit]

​@lender3000 you people are so weird talking about an umpire, and you make it political.

[@lender3000]

@@Ski_Unit Oh and the umpire union isn't political and bureaucratic. Ok. Let me send you a lolly pop..

[@alexblankenship5630]

Angel is the Jim Gaffingan joke where if you ran into him in heaven you would say, ‘you’re here!?’

[@nathanakers45]

Seriously, why can't they just they keep him on the payroll and 'promote' him to a desk job? Director of Umpire Accuracy? Executive VP of Ejections? Anything...get creative MLB!

[@MotoNomad350]

Now that “Country” Joe West retired, the title of “worst MLB umpire” has passed to Angel Hernandez and he’s leaning into the role.

[@maxdubs222]

Laz Diaz is pretty bad too he should be in the conversation

[@chickenfkeryay]

Cb bucknor and his crew mate jeff nelson 👎

[@shawnuel]

@@maxdubs222 CB Bucknor was rated the worst last season. He and Angel have been the worst for a while, now. West never got below 4th worst, IMO.

[@tmlms1313]

To be fair to Joe, when he was young he was actually one of the best B/S umpires in MLB. He just stuck around way too long.

[@auscolpyrtosspott9175]

CB. CB, no worse umpire

[@megapromo3771]

All of my friends including myself refuse to watch any game Angel Hernandez umps.

[@jimbo7300]

Players are going to get concussions with how many times they have to hit their head when Angel is umping and the challenge system is in place.

[@coreyk5536]

Word is he was staring directly at the eclipse, no protection. On June 8, 1918

[@Mathuews1]

Be careful or Angel will sue you like he sues the MLB

[@kennyg1358]

I can't believe there hasn't been a sports betting class action.

[@pravleenminhas3594]

Not to mention angel intially called a foul tip when the batter got hit and they tried to challenge and then he changed his mind and said the batter swung when he didn’t and you can’t challenge on check swing calls and a closeup shows he had his eyes closed during that at bat

[@bringndaruckus6956]

John Fisher of the Oakland Athletics. Is the Angel Hernandez of owners.

[@brandanlbarrios]

Can we talk about how Jeff Passan has an old school NES behind him? I love it.

[@goaliemedic37]

With the proliferation of gambling, at this point you almost have to ask whether Angel is involved in something to sway the games. I get mistakes, I get being bad, but the number and severity of how bad the calls he makes almost look suspect, almost criminal. I think it's worth seriously asking the question.

[@whoisbrucewayne17]

We still have 3 decades left of Hernandez. Unfortunately. He gets to play the race card to keep his job. It's absolutely absurd.

[@spsawyer22]

Rich and Jomboy need to have an Angel Hernandez podcast episode

[@brickhunter9537]

It’s kinda crazy, but at this point I won’t be surprised if Hernandez calls a strike out on a batter haven’t stepped in the box and pitcher is doing his warm up pitches.

[@ZombieBacon13]

I sorta can't blame Angel, he apparently happened to stumble upon the single most stable job on the planet.

[@originalrkmorton]

Angel is like that one person you know on a social media platform, watching them constantly mess around and leaving you to wonder how they dodge any and all repercussions

[@curbside_prophet6457]

Dammit Jeff, stop avoiding the question, “will/could the mlb do anything about terrible umpires, or does performance not matter to the mlb”

[@joecommenter1332]

Angel Hernandez is helping the robo umpire movement flourish and grow.

[@lowbee6391]

Leave Angel alone, what would we do without him? It's been so many years, everybody gets a turn. Enjoy it when it's not yours. Breath and laugh, it's awesome.

[@mexicanprivilege7848]

“The umpire's union is typically in charge of punishment for their fellow umpires. Firing an umpire based on nothing but poor performance is nearly impossible” This is absolutely insane.

[@bcask61]

Hernandez is just fucking with us at this point.

[@SailorMartin3]

When they first mentioned automating balls and strikes, I was completely against it but now with not just Angel Hernandez but a significant amount of the umps calling pitches wrong I think it would be a good idea.

[@billpinkerton3218]

Greg Maddox and Tom Glavine got pitches off the strike zone consistently and it drove me nuts. They didn’t need Angel and his mysterious strike zone

[@FCM415]

Im 41 years old. He’s been terrorizing ballgames I attended since I was a CHILD.

[@daniel.c2501]

Angel is no doubt one of the finest umpires in the game today he’s just set’s the example for others to follow.

[@sps8807]

You think u want the pitcher to be able to challenge, but what about the batter? And if the batter can, can they use challenges to throw off the pitchers delivery, or pacing?

[@samuelconrey7372]

Saw the ball/strike challenge used for the first time at a minor league game last year, and it made my stomach turn. Hope so badly this doesn’t make it to the majors.

[@RedWingnut00]

Whoever put down one month and 12 days, you win the betting pool!

[@edkerry87]

The challenge system is both effective and engaging. It improves the customer experience.

[@keveedarts3693]

HE NEVER ANSWERED HIS QUESTION ABOUT WHY IS HERNANDEZ STILL HAS A JOB

[@camoveteran2219]

"His cutter is magical." I love Jeff. He's an absolute legend.

[@mathewspieker]

I'd like to hear a genuine argument against taking balls and strikes out of the umpire's hands.

[@smokin19861]

I still remember a game last year on ESPN late last season between the Brewers and the Phillies that Angel was the home plate ump. His calls were so bad that game, nobody had a clue what he was going to call. Both teams were so mad at him and I think a player and the coach for the Phillies were ejected.

[@steveo288]

I'm for auto balls and strikes, but what about close plays at different bases? Was it a fair or foul ball down the left or right field line? You'd think the number of challenges would have to be increased but to what?

[@fagan4119]

You can't say things like "It didn't affect the final score". You have no idea what would have happened. Let's just get erroneous calls out of the game. People who say they like the human error element of a third part inflicting itself on the outcome of a game are about as logical as a broken clock. GET OUT.

[@Rufus6540]

In "the good old days" they used to say there were strike-ish balls and ball-ish strikes and it was up to the umpire to figure it out. Those days are long past but it's going to be interesting to see how many times calls are challenged and not overturned because there are certainly some instance where pitchers and hitters have gotten it wrong as well. They'll figure it out eventually, of course, but there will certainly be some adjusting. Separate thought - can you imagine, once it's in place in majors, game 7 of the WS and the technology goes down? Tech fails at the worst moments (see Com, Pitch) so while it'll be better than what we have now but still be interesting at times!

[@DeepDishPizza]

Angel Hernandez has helped my team so much through the years. I know that too many of you he sucks and I agree, but for my team, he’s been nothing short of fantastic.

[@TheOnlyResilientPilot]

Is the system putting the ball in the zone where it crosses the plate or wear the catcher catches it. A strike is across the plate at certain spots, a curving ball or dropping ball can cross the plate strikenand be caught in ball territory! Of the system shows ball when they caught it ball after it crossed in strike zone then what is it strike or ball?

[@UncleBt]

MLB needs Angel Hernandez, about the only reason baseball is getting any press right now.

[@thegamingpigeon3216]

I think it's partially easy to hold them accountable right now: after every pitch, show the location up on the scoreboard somewhere. I know MLB strongly frowns upon that and might even have it banned but I don't care. Show them. Show them how bad they're fucking up.

[@spdcrzy]

Whoever decided that Jeff's background needed to have The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly front and center for this particular interview (if it wasn't Jeff himself) is a fucking genius LOL.

[@Youre_Right]

You’re the reason they keep him around. Not personally, but he gets people talking about baseball. So he draws eyes and attention to MLB.

[@incredibleadventures1027]

This increases engagement with MLB. They like having a heel people will tune in for.

[@UnicornHunterD]

I don't know many officials' names across all sports but Angel Hernandez's name is etched into my head. I watched the Cubs game where a wrestler sang take me out to the ball game then said he would have words with the ump and Angel seemed to want to square up with him. That is my first memory of him, but I would continue to hear his name for the next 3 decades and its always for something negative.

[@moose7454]

The only update I’d like to see made to the current AAA rules is to give each team an extra challenge per each extra inning

[@ahogg5960]

Rich is totally correct. You can't get perfection but what you can do is remove, what us in Australian cricket call, "the howler" The call that gets made that on replay is just obviously wrong. It was the same argument that eventually brought in the Decision Review System (DRS) into cricket where players could challenge calls on the field, but only a certain number of times per innings (the number varied depending on the format played) Again, not because we were looking for perfection but because it just looked bad on the world stage when obviously bad decisions stood as the final decision.

[@otaviofrn_adv]

yes, and many sports are doing it. in volleyball a team has the right to challenge two calls per set. Angel was not umpiring a game in which he interferred directly with the result yet, but other umpires have. Jim Joyce in 2010 made a mistake that costed a perfect game for Armando Gallarraga. As said, you cannot get perfection, but you have to remove the more serious mistakes.

[@jimcullen2224]

MLB needs to fire him and ignore the Umpire's union. If they complain just tell them to shut up.

[@jamoe4802]

It isn't only Angel. They have an umpire issue in MLB.

[@otaviofrn_adv]

I saw about an umpire that had a great index of right calls on the field and was left out of the postseason. I'm saying this to aggravate your point, when they have a good one he is not calling the big games. Feel free to put his name here, I really cannot find it. The post is of some months ago.

[@doris31882]

In any professions, you’ll get fired or demoted when you continue to underperform. It’s not just about Angel Hernandez, it’s about transparency of the system. Why don’t they assign umpires based on their performance? Is it only union thing or is there other factors?

[@charlieharper2880]

Rich says it didn’t affect the score but what would have happened if a ball was thrown in the strike zone? In this era the batter may have hit a dart out of the park or just struck out. We just don’t know? So to make a blanket statement like that is irresponsible at best.

[@hunterotails2015]

Don't just get rid of him, get rid of ALL umpires. We don't need them in today's age. They needed a person to make calls in 1880, not in the 2020s. College, minors, and majors can all go digital. Leave umpires for little league

[@Rickhorse1]

ALL of these guys (in this case, Jeff Passan) are beholden to MLB for their jobs. The truth is that umpires are basically untouchable & immune to any accountability. The owners fought the players' union at every negotiation...but they never did that when dealing with the umpires' union. This is what caused today's situation.

[@Foot.Liqu0r]

Bottom line...MLB needs to step up, fire him, and tell the umpire's union to FOAD. In any other company/organization he would've been fired long ago for incompetence.

[@scooterthefrog]

Was watching the Jays game the other day and at one point said to my wife, "My god, this ump is awful, not to our team but just in general." Then as if someone at broafcast heard me, the announcemers said the magic words Angel Hernandez. Understanding that I wasn't watching baseball but a stupid rng event i found something else to do.

[@davidnottennant1161]

Rich, Jerome Bettis clearly said "HeadTAILS!" Phil Luckett was in the right! I'm not a Lions fan, just someone that can hear clear audio.

[@Dyswtric2001]

I hate how they show a 2D rectangle for the viewer and not a 3D rectangle (since the camera is at an angle). They could change the color of the rectangle if the ball goes through the rectangle (strike zone).

[@JJinVenice]

Guaranteed, the year they implement the challenge system in the Majors, Hernandez will retire. Denying us a full season of him being wrecked over and over.

[@MrJeffinLodi]

You didn't address the Angel Herandez issue at ALL; you clumped it all into one issue. That has NOTHING to do with Angel's incompetence and why he's allowed to continue.

[@markwalker3829]

No... It has to be the ABS system. It works all on it's own. Take it out of the umpires hands. Plus, no player or manager complaints that lengthen the game.

[@FKH23577]

This is so funny I just recently sent an email to MLB about this. My main question I asked "how can this be fair to the integrity of baseball"? And especially now with betting being legal. I don't expect an answer back and haven't received one. He should be demoted or even fired. It's just ridiculous.

[@gocubs1815]

Tennis has a challenge system for line calls despite having line judges and chair umps. Challenges take maybe 20 seconds and it doesn't impact the pace of play at all