World Series 2018: Is ‘terrible’ umpire Angel Hernandez working Dodgers-Red Sox showdown?

The 2018 World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox begins on Tuesday, October 23, 2018 (10/23/18) with Game 1 at Fenway Park in Boston, Mass. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw will match up against Red Sox ace Chris Sale.

It’s official.

Baseball players and fans will not be subjected to umpire Angel Hernandez for the rest of the playoffs.

On Monday, MLB announced the umpire crew for the World Series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and Boston Red Sox, and Hernandez’s name was not on the list.

He became a lightning rod for controversy in the American League Division Series between the Yankees and Red Sox.

In the 16-1 win by Boston in Game 3, Hernandez was working first base. Four of Hernandez’s calls in the first four innings went to replay challenge and three were overturned.

At one point, Hernandez turned to Yankees first baseman Luke Voit and said, “I’ll get the next one right.”

The next night, for Game 4, Hernandez was behind the plate.

Yankees starter CC Sabathia, who took the loss in the series-clinching 4-3 defeat, targeted Hernandez following the game.

“I don’t understand why he’s doing playoff games,” Sabathia said. “He’s terrible behind the plate. He was terrible at first base. It’s amazing how he’s getting a job to umpire in these playoff games.”

It probably came as no surprise that Hernandez did not work either League Championship Series.

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Here is the press release announcing the umpire crew for the World Series:

Major League Baseball today announced the umpires who have been assigned to the 2018 World Series, which is presented by YouTube TV.  Ted Barrett, who is in his 21^st season as a Major League Umpire, will work the Fall Classic for the fourth time, including his first as crew chief.

Barrett, who was the crew chief for this Postseason’s National League Division Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and the Colorado Rockies, previously worked the Fall Classic in 2007, 2011 and 2014.  Barrett, who holds a doctorate in theology, is the only umpire in history to have been behind home plate for multiple perfect games (David Cone in 1999 and Matt Cain in 2012).  He will lead a crew that includes regular season crew chiefs Fieldin Culbreth and Jeff Nelson as well as Kerwin Danley, Chad Fairchild, Jim Reynolds and Tim Timmons.  Like Barrett, it is the fourth career Fall Classic for Nelson; the third for Culbreth; the second for Danley and Reynolds; and the first for Fairchild and Timmons.  All seven umpires who will be on the field in the World Series were assigned to this year’s Division Series.

Culbreth will serve as the Replay Official for Games One and Two of the World Series, after which he will join the on-field crew as the left field umpire for Game Three.  Timmons, the home plate umpire for Game One, will be the Replay Official from Game Three through the conclusion of the World Series.  The Replay Assistant throughout the Fall Classic will be Major League Umpire Chris Conroy, who was on the field for the American League Division Series (HOU-CLE).  

Mike Rosenstein may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @rosenstein73. Find NJ.com on Facebook.