Angel Hernandez

[Guest Rotblatt]

From Newsday:

]"When the umpire tells your pitcher, 'I'm going to give you a couple inches off the plate, but I'm not going to give you four, five inches because you're not John Smoltz,' I think I've got a little bit of a problem with that," said Lo Duca, who also was upset with a balk call made earlier in the inning by second- base umpire Sam Holbrook.

]McCann admitted Lo Duca tagged him, saying, "He barely got me."

Different article, same paper:

] "A lot of us have had confrontations with Angel Hernandez, and it's not over," Floyd said. "Hopefully, we can pass him again." Floyd didn't elaborate on the Mets' plans for revenge, but he surmised that Hernandez has some sort of vendetta against certain players, or just the ones he doesn't like. And Floyd isn't even sure why these incidents keep happening. "He's a great guy," Floyd said. "I just feel like something's going on. I've been thrown out by him three or four times. I was thinking nothing but 'Here we go again.' I just feel like so many people have a problem with him, it's a shame. Everybody talks about this guy."

Dude made me hopping made yesterday not only for the play at the plate but also his inconsistent strike zone.

Did we protest yesterday? Are there any mechanisms in place for getting rid of a bad, unionized ump?

[Guest cooby]

And why does his name sound so familiar? I kept thinking yesterday that there is something about him that I should remember...

[duan]

because Angel Hernandez has messed up stuff with the Mets since I began following baseball (1998). Whenever I hear he's anywhere near home plate I cringe.

[G-Fafif]

cooby wrote: And why does his name sound so familiar? I kept thinking yesterday that there is something about him that I should remember...

Most famously, the play at the plate in Atlanta (7/5/98) when he called Michael Tucker safe when he was out, enraging Piazza, Franco, Valentine and a nation of millions.

[Guest cooby]

But for some reason, it seems like it has something to do with one of his kids.
Plus, he's not the guy that Roberto Alomar spit on is he?

[Guest Bret Sabermetric]

The spit recepient would be John Hirschbeck.

[Guest cooby]

That's right...

[Frayed Knot]

"Did we protest yesterday?"

No, there's nothing to protest.





"Are there any mechanisms in place for getting rid of a bad, unionized ump?"

Only if some union genius once again convinces his/them that a mass resignation is a shrewd negotiating ploy.

[Methead]

]called Michael Tucker safe when he was out

Exacerbated by the fact that it was a game-winning call, if I remember correctly. And wasn't he quoted as saying he had to catch a plane? Or did we make that up?

[G-Fafif]

Methead wrote: And wasn't he quoted as saying he had to catch a plane? Or did we make that up?

No, Piazza heard him say that in the course of the game. He is the worst.

[Centerfield]

That call was so horrendous, when Gary referenced it on Sunday I remembered exactly what he was talking about. Piazza had the plate completely sealed off. Tucker still has yet to touch home. Awful, awful call.

[Guest Iubitul]

I remember it like it was yesterday - the last game before the All-Star break. Whenever I hear that he's behind the plate, I expect a Mets loss.

[Willets Point]

cooby wrote: And why does his name sound so familiar? I kept thinking yesterday that there is something about him that I should remember...

Maybe because its so similar to Anderson Hernandez?

[Elster88]

People like Angel Hernandez and one of the math professors at my alma matter are the problem with tenure.

[Guest Iubitul]

That's another thing - it almost looked like he was smiling when he threw Lo Duca out...

[nymr83]

]Are there any mechanisms in place for getting rid of a bad, unionized ump?

theres a magic word in your question that should lead to your answer.
The next time the umpire's contract comes up MLB should make sure there is a provision allowing for the dismissal of umpires who are simply terrible at their jobs.

[MFS62]

duan wrote: because Angel Hernandez has messed up stuff with the Mets since I began following baseball (1998). Whenever I hear he's anywhere near home plate I cringe.

I used to have the same reaction when Lee Weyer was umpiring a Mets game. He seemed to get his jollies tossing Mets managers (the list is long and distinguished) out of games after he had made some blatantly bad calls. He had a short fuse, and would seemingly give the thumb as the first words were leaving the manager's lips.

Some officials seem to have it in for certain managers/ coaches. I remember NBA ref Mendy Rudolph had rabbit ears for anything Nets coach Kevin Loughery said (from the bench). Kevin got tossed more often by him than a salad at Steak House.

Later

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

This thread is reminding me of "Cowboy Joe" West.

Is he still umping?

[Gwreck]

Yancy Street Gang wrote: This thread is reminding me of "Cowboy Joe" West. Is he still umping?

Yep.