BALTIMORE — Controversial umpire Ángel Hernández confirmed his immediate retirement Monday evening after more than three decades in Major League Baseball.
Hernández, who began umpiring in 1991, was a polarizing figure for his inconsistencies calling balls and strikes. Three of his calls while working first base during Game 3 of the 2018 ALDS between the Red Sox and Yankees were overturned.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora was asked before Tuesday’s game for his reaction to Hernández’s retirement.
“Just a long career and I know he’s been criticized a lot. It’s a tough job,” Cora said. “Even yesterday for us, it was a tough one.”
Cora said it’s extremely difficult to hit nowadays because of the nasty stuff pitchers throw. He said it’s difficult for umpires in a similar way.
“Four-seamer, sinker, cutter, velocity and movement. It’s not easy,” Cora said. “He had some good days and some bad days. We all know it. He knows it, too. But he was always cool to me. When we play in Jupiter, (Fla.), he was always in that area. Wish him the best and enjoy retirement.”
Cora had a conversation Monday with third base coach Kyle Hudson, bullpen coach Kevin Walker and bench coach Ramón Vázquez about whether umpires should have access to PitchCom, the electronic communication device that pitchers and catchers use to call pitches without hand signals.
“That’s another one. They don’t know what’s coming. I don’t know if they have scouting reports. I don’t know if they do video work before. I have no idea,” Cora said. “I know they have certain things that help them prepare for the game.”
But Cora said umpires might give up on a pitch too early because it’s not where the pitcher and catcher agreed on a location. For example, a pitcher could call an outside fastball. The umpire then would be looking for it to land outside.
“Fastball away and they’re looking outside and the pitch is on the other side and it’s a strike,” Cora said.
