The Top 5 Times Angel Hernandez Cost Bettors Money

Longtime MLB umpire Angel Hernandez has retired. No, this is not a drill or a parody account. Angel Hernandez has officially called it quits on his MLB umpiring career. 

If you felt a small tremor within the last 24 hours, fear not, for that was just players, fans, and MLB bettors jumping for joy. 

After torturing Major League Baseball and impacting MLB odds for over three decades, Hernandez umpired his last game on May 9 between the Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Guardians. 

Hernandez was not without his fair share of controversies and his antics behind home plate (or anywhere on the field for that matter) often sent people into a frenzy and cost bettors money. 

Join me as I break down five times Hernandez (potentially) cost bettors dearly

Top 5 Angel Hernandez moments

5. Schwarber gives Hernandez an earful

No matter the sport, it's never a good look to show up an official. They are the ones calling the game and yes, their job is in fact hard. 

However, there's only so much a player can take before he blows a gasket and that's what happened with Kyle Schwarber in a game against the Brewers:

When Kyle Schwarber had enough of Angel Hernandez' calling balls and strikes. pic.twitter.com/UxguyoS1bv

— Baseball’s Greatest Moments (@BBGreatMoments) April 6, 2024

It's one thing to miss a call, but Hernandez has been so consistently bad that it's expected. The Phillies would end up losing the game and even Karl Ravech, who was doing play-by-play for the game defended Schwarber's meltdown saying, "Schwarber is speaking for both sides tonight."

Those who laid the -136 price tag with the Phils were left to feel the effects of an Angel Hernandez-umped game. 

4. Right down the middle

If you ever meet a baseball fan who is opposed to robot umpires taking over the game, just show him this Angel Hernandez clip:

Back-to-back pitches. Angel Hernandez. pic.twitter.com/L45zF6F23D

— Welcome to the Ump Show (@umpjob) April 12, 2022

These are two perfect strikes that caught plenty of the strike zone and Hernandez didn't even bat an eye. 

Washington Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz was just as confused as the rest of us that his pitcher didn't get the call. Those two pitches likely changed the outcome of the AB.

Instead of being ahead 0-2 to Adam Duvall who was hitless in the game, Patrick Murphy found himself in a hitters count before Duvall connected with an RBI single to cash his Over 0.5 hits and Over 0.5 RBI bets. 

Another Hernandez masterpiece. 

3. Stolen bases

I'm a bit surprised nobody has started a GoFundMe page for the amount of coin Hernandez has cost MLB bettors over his three-decade reign of terror. 

Then again, when he's awarding stolen bases to players who were out by over a foot, I shouldn't be surprised:

Welcome back, Ángel Hernández! 😂 pic.twitter.com/iIhEiq7Sj2

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 1, 2023

This is about as easy an "out" call you can make when dealing with stolen bases and even with Hernandez in prime position to make the correct call, he makes the wrong one. 

For those who bet Alex Call Over 0.5 stolen bases (I'm sure there was at least one) the glory was short-lived as replay overturned the call and the runner was ruled out. 

2. An imaginary double play

Let me set the scene for you. 

It's 2013 and the Chicago White Sox and Miami Marlins are battling it out in a 3-3 game in the bottom 10th inning. The bases are loaded with one out. Alex Rios steps up to the plate with a chance to be the hero. What transpired was a terrible call at first base by the one and only Angel Hernandez: 

In honor of Angel Hernandez blowing every call at first base tonight, let’s take a look back at this beauty from 2013. pic.twitter.com/l9rJk7oQwD

— Sox On 35th (@SoxOn35th) October 9, 2018

Rios was called out at first only for the replay to show Rios beating the throw by nearly a full step. Thankfully it didn't cost the White Sox (-176) the game as they would win it in the 11th, but Rios was clearly safe. 

1. The single worst strike call in history

If you and I were bad at our jobs, we'd be written up, put on some sort of development plan, or straight-up fired. 

How Angel Hernandez continued umpiring games after this strike call is a question that may never be answered. Just look at how far off the plate this pitch was:

9) Angel makes what is often referred to as his single worst called strike of all-time to Erick Aybar in the WBC pic.twitter.com/EDi4dvRwz4

— Addison (@YankeeWRLD) May 28, 2024

I mean, come on. I could have made the right call and I've not played a single game of competitive baseball in my life. This was an easy one and one that Hernandez made a living off of screwing up.

However, credit has to be given to Erick Aybar who didn't let the blown call affect his at-bat. Two pitches later, he would drive in Nelson Cruz which gave Puerto Rico (+385) a 2-1 lead and one they would hold on to. 

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