Bryce Harper on Angel Hernandez: 'It's just, every year it's the same story, same thing'

Harper had some strong words for umpire Angel Hernandez after he was ejected during the Phillies-Pirates games Thursday night.

[KlipzwitdaK]

I am a super casual baseball watcher. Angel Hernandez is the only umpire I know by name. Anytime his name comes up I know it’s never good.

[wurm]

I think that more players need to do this as far as Angel is concerned. He is a joke to the sport. The umpires union protecting him is literally making a travesty of the game.

[JR-virl]

I've heard Bryce say some dumb things before but not this time. "Get fined for being right". That is a very true statement for this incident. Anytime Hernandez is involved in something bad, he's the reason it's bad.

[MrDarksword]

He's not wrong at all. Hernandez is SO bad it's ridiculous. That call was absolutely terrible.

[doughargis]

Angel is one of the reasons we're getting electronic umps soon

[briguyinsi]

I understand he’s protected by the Union, but like… There’s gotta be a higher standard at his level once you make it into MLB umpiring. If you suck, you get relegated down or something to Triple A ball, or only Ump Athletics home games. Something, anything. You can’t be in the Local Carpentry Union and be like “Sorry guys, how do you use a hammer again?, I forgot”. No integrity.

[Beachdude]

If Bryce gets fined, its a total injustice.

[eciztfo]

It’s about time! Players and coaches need to quit being scared to say what is right and what everyone sees and knows anyway. These umpires and referees are paid way too much money to be that bad. They can eject a player but nothing happens to them when they make terrible calls consistently. Shame on MLB for letting this man retain his job.

[tuse]

Why does hernandez still be allowed to umpire....and nothing is ever done

[yasirb]

Anytime Angel is on the field, fans should make a point of berating him until he leaves.

[AndrewCox-wlbr]

At this point, all Angel Hernandez is doing is trolling the fans of baseball. He needs to go, he's just making a joke of everything.

[miller]

And remember when Hernadez complained he was not getting playoff games haha.

[blewis]

Maybe the Player Union should step in. If Hernandez is on the field ALL players stay in the locker room.

[chalie]

Just wanna say I AM a fan of Bryce Harper and he’s right

[rogerwilliams]

One reason I dislike MLB - players, coaches and managers should be allowed to voice their opinions regarding inept umpires without repercussions.

[arizonawrestlinginterviews]

When is Rob Manfred going to step up and hold Angel Hernandez accountable for his action? Every year in MLB it's the same, tired crap.

[brianwaffle]

My Wife and I love baseball. Anytime we see him listed as an umpire for the our games we cringe. She was floored by the video of the strike being called.

[robertsantos]

I don't know why players as a group just boycott all games the he is umpiring.

[BLAB-itun]

I despise Bryce Harper but I applaud him speaking out. Just wish more of the upstanding people in the game would also do so. I don't think most fans are aware of how muzzled the players and teams are. They are not allowed to speak out about specific officials or to publicly criticize them which is really immoral and wrong. I get the intent of it because it can't be a free for all but completely banning criticism is equally wrong and dangerous. It enables this type of incompetence. Public outcry would develop a public movement that should result in proper responses. But America is a PR driven economy so protecting the bottom line is all that matters. Every time Angel is on the field he becomes the story. Every single time. The announcers always mention it and my local team's announcers will half-jokingly anticipate Angel's poor calls and they have developed all sorts of crafty ways to point out his presence without mentioning him by name. And then sure enough he'll blow a call or two or three and the announcers just laugh because there is nothing they can do. It cheapens the game and insults the game. And it demeans the other umpires. When the announcers celebrate a series when they know in advance that Angel is there but wont have the plate, that's a toxic problem. And it is supported by evidence.

[refdjlk]

Over the years I used to hate Bryce I used to think he was a cry baby. Now I’ve just grown to love him. And he’s right about everything. Guess you gotta pay when you’re exercising your freedom to free speech.