With each passing day, and game after game, the need for the automated strike zone in MLB, or at least for a much better job by the existing crew of umpires, becomes more evident.
On Sunday, during the game between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Philadelphia Phillies, there were at least a dozen blown calls.
One of them, in the ninth inning of a close game, resulted in Kyle Schwarber exploding and fiercely arguing with umpire Angel Hernandez.
Schwarber was ejected, and his manager, Joe Girardi, said he would be in favor of the automated strike zone.
That game was broadcasted in national television: everybody saw what happened.
Well, according to retired umpire Joe West, Hernandez earned a 96 score by the league office for that games.
An Incredibly Generous Score
That is mind-blowing: it’s unbelievable that one of the worst umpiring games in recent memory – one that featured a ball called a strike while missing the plate by at least six inches – received such a high score.
“Joe West said that Ángel Hernández was given a score of 96 by the league office for this night’s performance because their grading system uses a different zone than what we see on TV so Ángel is ‘getting a raw deal’ from everyone. Seriously,” Codify Baseball tweeted.
Joe West said that Ángel Hernández was given a score of 96 by the league office for this night's performance because their grading system uses a different zone than what we see on TV so Ángel is "getting a raw deal" from everyone. Seriously. https://t.co/vyF86ULGTQ
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) April 28, 2022
It’s understandable that West defended his colleague: it’s natural, in fact.
However, we are not sure if this can be defensible.
It was an awful game for Hernandez, and the numbers show it.
Umpire: Angel Hernandez
Final: Brewers 1, Phillies 0#ThisIsMyCrew // #RingTheBell#MILvsPHI // #PHIvsMIL pic.twitter.com/x38zUGrU5E— Umpire Scorecards (@UmpScorecards) April 25, 2022
Between terrible umpires and the issues with the ball, MLB is buying itself more problems than it could probably handle.
MLB hitters and pitchers deserve better umpires, or no umpires at all.
NEXT: Blue Jays Get Good News Following Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Injury Scare