Yankees fans fume at umpire Angel Hernandez after botched third strike in first inning… before he calls a pitch down the middle a ball: ‘This should be his last game. Enough already.’
- Hernandez blew two obvious calls in the same game on Sunday afternoon
- Fans on social media once again called for Hernandez’s firing
- DailyMail.com provides all the latest international sports news
It’s the start of a new Major League Baseball season and somehow Angel Hernandez is still working as an umpire.
He reminded everyone how bad he was in Sunday’s Yankees-Blue Jays game when he struck out Gleyber Torres on an astonishingly terrible strike-three call in the first inning.
Toronto pitcher Bowden Francis was on the mound when he appeared to step back and off the rubber. He looked at his foot and realized his mistake, but continued to deliver the throw anyway, as there was no need for him to look.
Torres, thinking this was a dead throw, stepped back and didn’t try to swing at the ball. The pitch landed about three to six inches above the zone, which Hernandez shockingly called a strike three.
Torres pleaded his case, Yankees manager Aaron Boone came out and started arguing with Hernandez, saying there was no way the strike should have counted after the pitcher stepped off the rubber, and Hernandez didn’t budge – he told Torres to sit down.
Here, Blue Jays pitcher Bowden Francis steps off the mound for what should be a dead pitch
Angel Hernandez calls it a hit anyway – despite the fact that it’s a dead throw that missed the zone about two inches too high. Gleyber Torres (25) protests against the zero.
Hernandez (L) discusses the out with New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone
The boo birds came out in The Bronx, who also let out a chorus of “F**k you Angel” directed at the home plate umpire.
To make sure that both sides were at fault in this situation, Hernandez called a ball from Blue Jays pitcher Timothy Mayza, even though it was perfectly in the middle of the plate and well in the zone.
All parties couldn’t believe how awful Hernandez had been as people called for his job again on social media.
“This should be Angel Hernandez’s last match. It’s enough already,” New York Post baseball writer Jon Heyman wrote on Twitter.
‘This isn’t allowed, is it? You can’t get off and then immediately get excited and throw a pitch. And what a terrible strike call from Angel Hernandez,” another user wrote.
Baseball fans were up in arms after the incident, saying that Hernandez should be fired from the MLB
Another user said: ‘Angel Hernandez is the worst referee/official/referee in professional sports. Tell me I’m wrong.’
“This has to be the most Angel Hernandez clip I have ever seen,” another post reads. “The pitcher steps off, immediately steps back on the mound to throw a pitch, throws a ball and somehow Torres gets a call… How is this guy still employed?”
Another person posted: ‘Absolutely hilarious how Angel Hernandez literally blows it up every game he plays. you think “he can’t possibly sit on his balls today” and then he immediately sits on his balls. remarkable.’
“Angel Hernandez is a disgrace to baseball and anyone who takes pride in being good at their job. The man should never be allowed near a baseball field or diamond of any type again,” another user said.
The Yankees then defeated the Blue Jays 8-3.