Former MLB umpire Joe West staunchly defended Angel Hernandez, the recently retired and often criticized umpire, during an appearance on the Parkins & Spiegel Show.
This came a day after Hernandez announced his retirement.
“Whether you want to believe it or not, he was good at it,” West asserted, reflecting on his long-term professional relationship with Hernandez and the nuances of how MLB umpires are evaluated.
West highlighted that umpires are not graded based on the electronic strike zone seen on television broadcasts, a common misconception among fans.
Hernandez, 62, who umpired his first MLB game in 1991, cited a desire to spend more time with his family as the reason for his retirement.
According to ESPN and USA Today, Hernandez reached a settlement with MLB to facilitate his departure.
“I know the lawyer that handled his case and I know that when they went through everything that he was graded on, he was in the top 20% (of umpires),” West said, referring to Hernandez’s 2017 lawsuit against MLB alleging racial discrimination.
Although Hernandez lost the case, it was significant in advocating for better opportunities for minority umpires. Hernandez’s lawsuit claimed he was overlooked for a full-time crew chief role and hadn’t officiated a World Series since 2005 due to racial discrimination.
West noted that at the time the lawsuit was filed, there was only one minority umpire in a crew chief position.
Since then, six minority umpires have achieved that role, indicating a positive shift likely influenced by Hernandez’s efforts.
“His legacy is to help people,” West said, praising Hernandez’s impact on the umpiring community.
West also criticized those who frequently lambasted Hernandez for his perceived mistakes and mishaps on social media.
“I hate the fact that these people that sit behind a desk and get behind a computer and send out all these social media things, they don’t know what they’re talking about,” West vented, defending Hernandez’s professional integrity and emphasizing the challenges and scrutiny faced by MLB umpires.
