Yankees manager Aaron Boone comes to umpire Ángel Hernández's defense after backlash

ANAHEIM,́ngelHerná Calif. – Since being hired as the New York Yankees manager in 2018, Aaron Boone has been involved in more than his share of heated arguments with umpires.

But on Tuesday, Boone defended one of the most controversial umps on his way out.

The sudden retirement of Ángel Hernández drew another round of derisive comments, but not from Boone.

“It’s a long career. I think he’s wrongly been a poster child (and) can be a punching bag of officiating,’’ said Boone, adding Tuesday that Hernández's treatment has “sometimes been unfair and over the top.

“The reality is, he’s spent a lot of time in this league, cared about his craft, and I wish him well,’’ Boone said before a 4-3 Angels’ win against the Yankees.

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Boone added that Hernández is “a great guy, and (I) wish him well in his next chapter. I think it’s unfortunate (about) what I think is over the top criticism of him even going into retirement.’’

Some of that digging came from retired Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia, whose Twitter account posted a “That’s All Folks’’ Looney Tunes gif following the news of Hernandez’s exit from the game.

Following a 2018 postseason game, Sabathia was sharply critical of Hernández, saying: “He shouldn’t be anywhere near a playoff game.’’