Keith Hernandez is trying to explain himself for something that he can’t just blame on Roger McDowell this time.
The New York Mets legend and television color commentator Hernandez was caught on a hot mic during a game broadcast on SportsNet New York this week making a crude remark. As the Mets were playing the Miami Marlins in extra innings on Wednesday, an irritated Hernandez could be heard angrily muttering about “piss-poor hitting.”
You can see the video here.
On Friday, Hernandez appeared with Gregg Giannotti and Boomer Esiason on WFAN and attempted to clarify his hot-mic remark, saying that it was not directed at the Mets.
“It was intended for the Marlins,” Hernandez said of his crude comment. “I know the Mets left a runner on third as well but … to me it’s just a lost art, I just see it year in and year out, a basic inability to make an adjustment at the plate when a sacrifice fly is in order, particularly when it wins a game late.
“It’s just a pet peeve of mine,” added Hernandez. “I mean, it’s the easiest RBI in the world. Get it done.”
For Hernandez, who was referencing the ghost runner that starts on second base in extras, his comment came right before the beginning of the 11th inning after both the Mets and the Marlins had failed to score in the 10th. Because it was a home game for them, the Marlins were the last team to bat right before Hernandez’s “piss-poor hitting” remark, so his explanation here is at least believable.
The jab by Hernandez, now 71, also could have applied to the Mets, who are currently in the bottom half of MLB in runs scored this season. But at least there are far worse things that Hernandez, who has had his fair share of doozies on the air before, could have said on the hot mic there.
