Double down
Hernandez stands by comments on Acuna
Keith Hernandez responded Thursday to the criticism of his comments on Braves phenom Ronald Acuna Jr.’s drilling — with a more detailed explanation of why he thought it was fair.
The former Met stood behind his explanation in the SNY booth during the Mets-Orioles game Wednesday night, when he said Marlins pitcher Jose Urena hitting Acuna with the first pitch of an eventual 5-2 Braves win was only right considering how hot the Braves rookie had been at the plate. Acuna, who brought a streak of three straight leadoff homers into Wednesday’s game, left in the second inning after taking the pitch to the left elbow and causing both benches to clear.
“I only needed to see it once, and that’s all I have seen it, and my opinions haven’t changed. I don’t think the pitch was that bad, to be honest with you,” Hernandez told SNY’s Doug Williams. “It wasn’t anywhere near the head. I was very clear in the booth that I draw the line on anything from the neck above, headhunting and also a pitcher with an intent to hurt. Sometimes you have to brush people back, and this is an incredible streak that Acuna is on right now, and a home run streak to boot.
“The pitch that I saw started out a little bit on the inside corner and ran inside. It was around waist level. Acuna could’ve turned his back ... who knows, it’s a split second. But he did drop his elbow to deflect
the ball, and unfortunately he got hit in the elbow and that’s one place you don’t want to get hit. If he hadn’t gotten his elbow there, he would’ve been hit in the side by his waistline or in the small of his back and
everything would’ve been fine.
“So I stand firmly by what I said and I don’t think the pitch was that terrible.”
Hernandez, who has had his fair share of controversies as an analyst since retiring from baseball in 1990, took particular heat from Braves reliever Peter Moylan and Hall of Famer Chipper Jones for endorsing the cheap shot.
Moylan tweeted, “This is just next level bulls--t!!! The kid is playing the game with joy and needs to be hurt for being great. You are a clown @keithhernandez.”
Jones turned the argument back on Hernandez and the Mets, pondering how the NL East rivals would feel if Jacob deGrom received the same treatment.
“So by this way of thinking, Jacob deGrom should get drilled cuz he’s the hottest pitcher on the planet?” Jones wrote on Twitter. “NO! I Enjoy watching him pitch and I enjoy watching RAJ play the game. I’m old school just like this broadcaster, but these comments are waaay off base!”
Acuna was back in the lineup Thursday night, batting leadoff for the Braves against the Rockies, after tests on his elbow came back negative. Urena was suspended for six games and also fined an undisclosed sum.