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Keith Hernandez asks not to cover Phillies games: They're 'not up to it'

Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Keith Hernandez doesn't want to show up when he believes the opponent won't either.

The New York Mets broadcaster and former NL MVP said he asked SNY to exempt him from covering games against the Philadelphia Phillies because he dislikes watching them, according to Stephanie Apstein of Sports Illustrated.

"As far as fundamentally and defensively, the Phillies have always been just not up to it," Hernandez said during Tuesday's broadcast.

The Phillies entered the 2022 campaign with many expecting them to be poor defensively. By FanGraphs defensive metrics, Philadelphia has cost itself a collective 12 runs - fourth-worst in MLB.

No fielder across the league has been worse than Nick Castellanos, who's been worth minus-15.7 runs, according to FanGraphs. Rhys Hoskins has cost the club 8.2 runs, while Kyle Schwarber has been worth minus-7.0.

Hernandez spent seven seasons with the Mets. The five-time All-Star and 11-time Gold Glove winner has been a key member of the SNY broadcast crew for Mets games alongside play-by-play announcer Gary Cohen and color commentator Ron Darling since 2006.

Through the years, Hernandez has become known for "Keithisms," including praising teams that play good defense for having "good fundies" - short for "good fundamentals."

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