One of the great aspects of the World Baseball Classic has been the opportunity to watch just how much these games mean to the players. Every moment seems extra important, and that pride brings out a personality you just don’t see in many MLB games.
That’s what makes it awfully disappointing that the U.S. audience is stuck with John Smoltz as the Fox color commentator. Smoltz is notoriously old school and often sounds like he’s in physical pain whenever a player dares to flip his bat or show emotion.
That kind of attitude was on display during Monday’s World Baseball Classic semifinal between Japan and Mexico. When Randy Arozarena robbed Kazuma Okamoto of a home run in the fifth inning, Smoltz seemed more annoyed with Arozarena’s fake-out celebration than he was impressed with the actual catch.
Smoltz said that Arozarena was grandstanding — a negative way of describing what had occurred.
That Mexico fan’s reaction to Randy Arozarena taking the home run away there from Kazuma Okamoto. pic.twitter.com/do6X3FcvxW
— Andrew Jones (@TWDTV1) March 21, 2023
In the full exchange, play-by-play announcer Joe Davis asked, “How much fun is Randy Arozarena to watch?” Smoltz was silent before quipping, “Not good for a play-by-play announcer, though.” However, Davis was all over the call as the catch happened live.
RANDY ROBS IT!!! MY GOODNESS 🤯😳
📺: WBC on FS1 pic.twitter.com/qmtqs6NVfE
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) March 21, 2023
It was fine for a play-by-play announcer and actually a great call from Davis.
Smoltz seemingly couldn’t just enjoy a sensational catch and fun moment from one of the WBC’s most entertaining players.
Baseball fans also didn’t appreciate the “grandstanding” remark from Smoltz.
This was how Twitter reacted
Smoltz can call it grandstanding. I'll just call it being awesome. https://t.co/5Cr3JBPP0d
— JJ Cooper (@jjcoop36) March 21, 2023
And John Smoltz can go pound sand with his "grandstanding" comment. Get out of the booth, old man! Guys like you, we wouldn't have interleague, the WBC, gold chains, bat flips, you name it. FOX, please put him out to pasture. You can't do better than John Smoltz? https://t.co/L7Bfg3davJ
— Eric Willuweit (@eswillow72) March 21, 2023
And of course no fun Smoltz called this grandstanding…leave the game forever GRAMPS…this is FUN!!!!! https://t.co/F7DylNb9tn
— Flippin Foster (@flippinfoster) March 21, 2023
Get Smoltz out of the booth already! Amazing moment and he calls it “grandstanding”. The announcer who hates baseball the most #WBC
— Obi Wan Jabroni (@BradenJCoats) March 21, 2023
All time home run rob by randy. Love how his jersey is untucked. Old man smoltz calls it grandstanding. Let us have some fun, for once.
— M (@MS130BLOCK) March 21, 2023
One could argue that Smoltz calling it grandstanding is kind of grandstanding on his part.
— Craig Wieczorkiewicz (@MWLtraveler) March 21, 2023
And then Smoltz called it "grandstanding" 😠
No one is forcing you to do this, John pic.twitter.com/49bIDo3TeE— John Adler (@johnadler83) March 21, 2023
And all we got was John Smoltz saying he was grandstanding 😞
— MeesterMike (@moscowmike13) March 21, 2023
Him saying "And now he's grandstanding" after Arozerena's catch was peak Smoltz.
— Adam Hamilton (@distractmyself) March 21, 2023
Baseball is supposed to be fun. Just listen to how the Japanese broadcast enjoyed the walk-off hit.
