Since Ángel Hernández announced his retirement on Monday, several people in the baseball world have commented on and shared stories about the oft-criticized umpire. On Tuesday, as part of the pregame show for the Toronto Blue Jays game against the Chicago White Sox on NBC Sports Chicago, Ozzie Guillén did the same.
And to the surprise of nobody, the story was gold.
The segment started with footage of Hernández calling a pair of balks on then-White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle in 2010. Guillén detailed how that crew, which also included Joe West, was particularly eager to call balks. But as the argument, which ended with Hernández ejecting Guillén, was shown, the former manager recalled another argument with Hernández.
“You know what? One day, Ángel was so bad in Oakland. I called time-out and I put my hands up to call time-out, and he said I called somebody out of the bullpen. He’s at first base, I go, ‘Time.’ And the manager came out, Howe, Art Howe, came out, ‘He called somebody in the bullpen.’ I go ‘Ángel, I just called time-out.’ So, they have a big meeting. I go, Ángel, I just went like this (putting one hand up), Look, the bullpen’s all the way back there.'”
Guillén then recalled asking Hernández a question that many managers, coaches, players and fans no doubt pondered.
Ozzie Guillén recalls an argument with Ángel Hernández.
“‘Tell me you’re drunk. No? Bad answer. Because you’re really behind the plate like you spent all night drinking. Because you don’t have no clue what you’re doing.'”pic.twitter.com/nSrnqlvJGo
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 29, 2024
“That day, I said ‘Are you drunk?’ I said ‘Ángel, are you drunk? Are you drunk? Tell me you’re drunk. No? Bad answer. Because you’re really behind the plate like you spent all night drinking. Because you don’t have no clue what you’re doing.'”
[Photo Credit: NBC Sports Chicago]
