Keith Hernandez: 'Dead Soldier' Comment on Broken Bat Strikes Out (Video)

Sports broadcaster Keith Hernandez is in hot water with fans after using the term "dead soldier" to refer to a broken bat during Monday's Memorial Day game between the Mets and Yankees.

Hernandez made the ill-timed comment during the first inning of the game when Mets slugger Daniel Murphy shattered his bat and grounded out.

"Well, that is a dead soldier right there, folks, laying in that infield dirt," Hernandez said while calling the replay on SportsNet New York. "This is — ouch. That's what we call getting sawed off. And that’s nothing to be ashamed of. That happens."

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Hernandez's comment immediately caused backlash on Twitter.

@kburkhardtsny waiting for on air apology from Keith Hernandez for saying broken bat is "dead soldier" on Memorial Day.

— Dan Bernhardt (@danbernhardt) May 27, 2013

Should Keith really be referring to a broken bat as a "dead soldier" on Memorial Day? #Mets

— Greg Prince (@greg_prince) May 27, 2013

Keith Hernandez calls a broken bat during tonight's game "a dead soldier."Jesus Keith, it's Memorial Day!

— Lucas Day (@Lukelakers) May 28, 2013

Keith Hernandez with a horrible choice of words when describing a broken bat on Memorial Day...calling it a "dead soldier." @mets #epicfail

— Courtney Zwirko (@CaCaCaCourtneyZ) May 27, 2013

"We'll address the matter with Keith. It was an honest mistake and a poor choice of words," a spokesman for SNY said.

Steve Hirdt, executive vice president of the Elias Sports Bureau, tried to explain the meaning behind Hernandez's gaffe.

"I would think that the phrase is of a piece with another colloquialism — the one by which broken bats that produce base hits are said to have 'died a hero,'" Hirdt told the New York Times.
 




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