Mets’ Keith Hernandez throws major shade at Phillies before crucial series

Mets broadcaster Keith Hernandez clearly hasn’t watched the Phillies in 2022.

With the Philadelphia Phillies currently in sole possession of the second National League Wild Card spot — and with fewer than 60 games remaining — each game is only becoming more and more paramount to come away with a win.

After its current three-game series against the Miami Marlins, interim manager Rob Thomson’s squad will play seven of their next 10 games opposite the division-leading New York Mets.

While it will be difficult for the Phillies to overcome their double-digit games deficit in the National League East, the club still needs to stay playing competitive baseball and avoid a complete meltdown — as witnessed in the summers of recent seasons under then-managers Gabe Kapler and Joe Girardi.

Expect the Phillies to show up for the pair of crucial series against the Mets. One person who says he won’t be there, however, is longtime Mets television broadcaster and 1986 World Series-winning first baseman, Keith Hernandez.

Hernandez said on Tuesday evening’s broadcast that he “hates” calling Phillies games and has asked SNY not to make him call games against them. Hernandez’s reason for abandoning his job amid one of the best Mets seasons in franchise history:

"“As far as fundamentally and defensively, the Phillies have always been just not up to it.”"

Ironically, newly acquired Phillies infielder Edmundo Sosa made a Jimmy Rollins-esque play at shortstop less than an hour removed from Hernandez’s questionable comment:

Hernandez’s statement goes to show he is one of the many national baseball personalities who evidently have not watched the Phillies this season. In fact, their 47 errors entering Tuesday were tied with the New York Yankees for the fourth-fewest in Major League Baseball.

The Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, and Atlanta Braves each followed with 49 errors committed each.

The Mets retired Hernandez’s No. 17 last month after electing him to their Hall of Fame in 1997. The former 17-year veteran — who also won the World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 1982 — ranks second in Mets franchise history in batting average (.297). He also notably earned a franchise-best six Gold Glove Awards.

Now in his 17th season as a Mets game analyst, you would expect better from Hernandez. Of course, he might have been partly kidding — but to say that statement, proven false by the aforementioned MLB leaderboard, is just irresponsible.