Angel Hernandez was once again at the center of controversy during a nationally televised Sunday Night Baseball game, making a string of questionable calls behind the plate. The video highlighted multiple missed strike and ball calls, with visuals showing pitches well outside the strike zone being called strikes and others clearly crossing the zone being ruled balls. The inconsistency led to frustration on both sides, culminating in Kyle Schwarber’s explosive reaction after a full-count strikeout in the ninth inning. Schwarber slammed his bat and helmet, shouting that Hernandez had been missing calls all night for both teams. Joe Girardi also confronted Hernandez, calling his performance “just bad” and counting 19 missed calls according to data from Baseball Savant. Even players on the opposing team couldn’t help but agree with Schwarber’s outburst.
MLB had previously responded to Hernandez’s lawsuit by asserting he lacked leadership and consistency in high-pressure situations. Observers pointed out that his struggles with calling balls and strikes are not new and questioned why Hernandez is still assigned to work behind the plate. The suggestion was simple: if the umpire’s union protects his job, fine, but don’t let him call balls and strikes anymore. Put him at third base, where fewer calls are required. The criticism wasn’t one-sided either; the video made it clear that Hernandez’s missed calls affected both teams in crucial moments of the game. The data backed it up, with graphics showing just how far off many of his calls were. The overall sentiment was that major league games deserve better umpiring, especially in prime time.