CC Sabathia blasts ump Ángel Hernández after ALDS: 'I don't know why he's doing these games'
The New York Yankees’ postseason is over and that means it’s time for the airing of grievances. First up: CC Sabathia has some very choice words for umpire Ángel Hernández and Major League Baseball.
Less than an hour after the Boston Red Sox eliminated the Yankees in the ALDS, Sabathia repeatedly derided Hernández’s ability and reputation as an umpire and MLB for assigning Hernández to postseason games.
CC Sabathia: Not a fan of Ángel Hernández
Sabathia started Game 4 for the Yankees on Tuesday and somewhat struggled, lasting only three innings and yielding three earned runs. He didn’t go as far as blaming his performance or the Yankees’ ALDS loss on Hernández, but he clearly wasn’t happy.
CC Sabathia on Angel Hernandez: “He’s absolutely terrible. He was terrible behind the plate today. He was terrible at first base. It’s amazing how he’s getting jobs umpiring in these playoff games.”
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) October 10, 2018
More CC Sabathia on Angel Hernandez: “He shouldn’t be anywhere near these playoff games.”
“He’s bad. I don’t understand why he’s doing these games.”
“It’s sad that he’s doing these games. It’s crazy.”
“He’s always bad. He’s a bad umpire.”
— Tim Healey (@timbhealey) October 10, 2018
In addition to that, Sabathia insisted he and the Yankees weren’t alone in lamenting the sight of Hernández.
CC says that’s a sentiment shared by others, not just him. “Ask the Red Sox,” he adds.
— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) October 10, 2018
It’s worth noting that these two have a history together, with Sabathia yelling at Hernández for his strike zone earlier this season.
Unfortunately for Sabathia, Boston’s Game 4 starter Rick Porcello didn’t quite agree with him when asked about his comments.
Rick Porcello wasn’t having this. He said: “Throw the ball over the plate C.C. I thought Angel Hernandez called a good game. You gotta out the ball over the white part of the plate and then you get the strikes called.” https://t.co/uF4yORR3cO
— James Wagner (@ByJamesWagner) October 10, 2018
Sabathia not alone in criticizing Hernandez
With all respect to Porcello, assuming he was serious, he might have trouble finding pro-Hernandez allies. The MLB replay booth certainly wasn’t a fan of Hernandez in Game 3, when the umpire had an astounding three different calls at first base overturned.
That game earned Hernández massive derision, with Pedro Martinez calling him “as bad as there is.” Hernández already carried a notoriously negative reputation heading into the ALDS, and his performance did little to turn public or player opinion.
This likely won’t help Hernández’s MLB lawsuit
Sabathia’s comments against Hernández would be notable in a vacuum, but they’re even more eyebrow-raising thanks to a certain legal case still ongoing in federal court.
Hernández sued MLB back in 2017 for racial discrimination because the league has declined to promote him to crew chief or assign him to the World Series despite nearly three decades of experience, ostensibly due to his Latino descent. Sabathia’s comments coincide with MLB’s anticipated argument: Hernández’s lack of a promotion and World Series assignment was based on his competence, not his race.
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