New York Mets: Keith Hernandez’s comments were fair and accurate

The world needs to get off the back of New York Mets broadcaster Keith   Hernandez. His comments were fair and everyone is overreacting.

Former New York Mets first baseman and current broadcaster Keith Hernandez has come under fire over the last 24 hours. People around the baseball landscape didn’t like what he had to say.

For anyone who hasn’t heard yet, Hernandez had some comments about Braves rookie Ronald Acuna, Jr. getting hit by Marlins pitcher Jose Urena on the first pitch of their game on Thursday night.

Acuna was on a three-game streak of hitting leadoff home runs. Urena didn’t give him a chance to make it four. If you haven’t heard the comments yet, here they are from SI:

"“They’re killing you. You lost three games. He’s hit three home runs. You gotta hit him,” Keith Hernandez said on the Mets broadcast in Baltimore. “I’m sorry, people aren’t going to like that. You know, you gotta hit him, knock him down. I mean, seriously knock him down if you don’t hit him. You never throw at anybody’s head or neck. You hit him in the back. You hit him in the fanny.”"

Everyone is up and arms over these comments. Hernandez has been called “old school” and one response said that the Mets organization should be embarrassed. Twitter is basically having a bench clearing brawl with everyone on one team and Keith Hernandez on the other.

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Well here is a take that will also be controversial but one that I stand by.

Keith Hernandez’s comments were fair and accurate. The interpretation of said comments is dead wrong.

First of all, this is not advocating that a player be injured, especially on purpose. That is 100% wrong.

The problem with everyone’s take is that Hernandez didn’t advocate anyone getting hurt either. Listen to it carefully.

He said don’t throw at the head or neck. Hernandez did say hit them in the back or in the rear end.

Granted, he could have worded things differently and talked about brushing the hitter back. Emphasizing the idea of “plunking” was questionable wording.

That’s all it was. Questionable wording. He in no way, shape or form advocated that the hitter should be injured deliberately.

Interpreting that in that way is simply not listening and being too literal.

Hernandez, albeit poorly worded, was advocating to throw inside and prevent hitters from crowding the play. On that, he is absolutely right.

Watch any baseball game these days. Every hitter drapes themselves over the plate and they own both halves. The pitchers respond by throwing outside. Nobody throws inside anymore and frankly it’s sad. The pitcher has a right to the inside corner.

When pitchers do throw inside, hitter barely get out of the way. They basically stand there and take one for the team. Hitters are not afraid of the pitcher coming in on them. It’s been taken away from the hitters in today’s game and the pitchers must take the inside part of the plate back.

Again, I am not, and would never advocate for a player to be injured on purpose. Neither was Keith Hernandez. He was advocating for not letting a hot hitter get comfortable behind the plate.

Could he have worded it better? Sure. But was his intention good? Yes. His message was also fair and accurate.

Back off of Keith Hernandez.