Keith Hernandez, who has played over 2,000 MLB games at first base and is in his 20th season as a TV analyst for New York Mets games, witnessed something unprecedented during Thursday’s game against the Houston Astros. He was astonished by the positioning of first-base umpire Rob Drake in the sixth inning, standing in front of the first-base coach, just behind the bag. “Rob Drake over at first base, look where he’s positioned,” Hernandez expressed incredulously. “How’s he going to call a bullet down the right-field line fair or foul, if it’s close? I’ve never seen that positioning by a first-base umpire, not even in Little League.”
“I would have to think that’s an adjustment that Major League Baseball has made. He wouldn’t be doing that on his own,” noted SNY play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen. “Of course, of course,” Hernandez agreed. “I don’t know who’s brainchild that is. Maybe it’s to improve the calls on pick-off plays,” Cohen speculated. However, Hernandez pointed out the difficulties, stating, “What about the bullet down the line? That’s a tough angle for the first-base umpire.” “It’s also in the first-base coach’s way,” Cohen added.
A former first baseman himself, Keith Hernandez, is absolutely miffed about where Rob Drake is standing.
“I don’t know who’s brainchild that is.” pic.twitter.com/0rjFenNQIC
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) March 27, 2025
The broadcast then shifted to third-base umpire Malachi Moore, who was positioned down the left-field line in a more traditional spot. Cohen and Hernandez also discussed the potential dangers of the umpire’s position, acknowledging that base coaches wear helmets for protection. “The umpire, if he’s going to play there, should probably be wearing a helmet, too,” Cohen remarked.
