In a Friday night game between the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers, MLB umpire Angel Hernandez found himself at the center of controversy once again. Known for having one of the worst reputations among umpires, Hernandez's questionable calls during the game sparked outrage among fans and players alike.

The focal point of the controversy was a viral clip showing rookie Wyatt Langford being called out on strikes on three consecutive sliders that were clearly outside the strike zone. According to the Umpire Auditor on X (formerly Twitter), the called third strike missed the plate by a whopping 6.78 inches. This measurement, obtained from the Codify system, revealed that it was the farthest-off-the-plate called third strike out of the last 53,000 recorded instances.

Although Hernandez made the correct strike call 91% of the time, below the league-average of 94%, it was his calls on pitches out of the zone that drew the most criticism. Out of the 55 called strikes, 12 were actually balls, resulting in a 78% hit-rate. This rate fell well below the league average of 88%.

Baseball fans took to social media to voice their frustrations. Many called for Hernandez's dismissal, with some suggesting that his consistent controversial calls warrant the implementation of the robo ump system. The umpire's reputation and performance in the game raised questions about his consistency and ability to adapt to changing eras.

Hernandez's previous claims of racial discrimination also resurfaced. Having filed a lawsuit against Major League Baseball in 2017, the umpire accused the league of manipulating the performance of him and other minority umpires, which he claimed hindered their progress in becoming crew chiefs. In March 2021, Hernandez lost the lawsuit alleging racial discrimination. This history only added fuel to the ongoing backlash he faced.

As the debate over Hernandez's performance continues, some argue that it is the responsibility of the batters to adjust to the umpire's strike zone. However, the lack of clarity regarding Hernandez's strike zone raises questions about whether he himself needs to adapt.

The controversial calls made by Angel Hernandez during the Astros-Rangers game have once again brought his reputation under scrutiny. Whether changes will be made to address the ongoing concerns surrounding his performance remains to be seen.