“Take Note MLB” – KBO’s Firing of Umpire Sparks Comparison With Controversial Angel Hernandez

Angel Hernandez finds himself in the news even when he’s not even involved in the incident. The controversial umpire has often invited the ire of fans due to his questionable calls. But while multiple teams and players have butted heads with Hernandez, his position in MLB has never been in danger. However, KBO’s Lee Min-ho doesn’t have the same luck. 

The Korean Baseball League announced on Friday that it had officially fired Lee Min-ho and suspended two other umpires. It was done after Lee Min-ho’s efforts to hide and cover up a missed call were caught during a recent game. While it was an unexpectedly strict punishment for a 28-year veteran the fans compared him to MLB and its treatment of Angel Hernandez.

KBO fires an umpire due to a controversial situation 

According to The Korea Times, last Sunday Lee Min-ho was the crew chief of a regular season KBO game between the NC Dinos and the Samsung Lions. However, he was caught on a mic asking his fellow umpires to cover up a wrong call during that game. That became a scandalous situation for the league which led to immediate action.

KBO has implemented the Automated ball-strike System (ABS) this season. What happened was that during one of the plays home plate umpire Moon Seong-hoon missed a “strike” call from the ABS for on a pitch by the Dinos starter. The team’s manager Kang In-kwon argued with the umpires after he saw the strike call pop up on the league-issued tablet after a few seconds of delay.

It was then that Lee Min-ho called Moon and the third-base umpire Chu Pyung-ho to discuss their actions. Here Lee was heard telling umpires to “tell people you heard the ‘ball’ call. Understand? That’s the only way we can get out of this.” That started hullabaloo across the league and KBO removed all three umpires from assignments on Monday. Now Lee is fired and the other two are suspended for three months without pay. 

This is the most severe punishment given to an umpire in KBO history since 1982. However, while that was unexpected the MLB fans reacted in an even more surprising way.

Why not Angel Hernandez wonder MLB fans

Many fans shudder when they see Angel Hernandez officiating their team’s game. Even though Hernandez’s decisions are mostly correct, some of the more questionable ones have caused massive arguments. As a result, he remains a polarising figure in baseball. Evidence of that was found when fans commented things like – “And Angel Hernandez still has a job…..” 

But that wasn’t the only thing said about this incident. “Take note MLB,” a fan said. Baseball lovers have always wondered why the league refrains from strict actions against umpires. “Yet, it will literally require an act of Congress to fire Angel Hernandez,” an X user joked. However, his sentiments were shared by many who’ve seen how the controversial umpire finds himself safe even after loud calls are made to remove him.

But while fans remembered Hernandez they also praised the KBO was taking strict action. “Wow, glad to see it though. His integrity was ruined and couldn’t be trusted on the field anymore,” said a fan. The user noted that Lee Min-ho’s departure was all but guaranteed after he lost the league’s trust. Finally, a fan was confused about the KBO using an automated system, “ABS call? What do you mean?”  So it seems even when he’s not involved fans love to drag Hernandez into a matter. For how long will this love-hate relationship continue?