Pirates Fans Won’t Appreciate Hall Of Famer’s Dark Paul Skenes Prediction

John Smoltz was a Hall of Fame pitcher, but his broadcasting career leaves a lot to be desired.

FOX’s MLB color commentator has been criticized by baseball fans over the years for his tone, analysis and commentary. He lacks enthusiasm and rarely seems to be enjoying the game.

His negativity resurfaced during Sunday’s World Baseball Classic semifinal between USA and the Dominican Republic, which many observers called one of the most exciting baseball games in recent memory.

You wouldn’t know it by listening to Smoltz, however, who took an unnecessary dark detour during Paul Skenes’ electric start for Team USA.

“I just hope this young man can stay healthy and defeat the odds of every pitcher in the big leagues that throws like him that usually ends up getting something. An injury,” Smoltz said with Skenes on the mound in the bottom of the fifth. “I hope he can stay healthy and pitch for 10, 12 years, set all kinds of records.”

While it’s true that Tommy John surgery is an epidemic in Major League Baseball and pitchers often get hurt, it didn’t need to be said at that moment. After all, Skenes is only 23 and has been one of the strongest, most durable pitchers in baseball over his first two seasons.

To make matters worse, Smoltz followed that up by immediately taking a shot at the Pittsburgh Pirates.

When play-by-play broadcaster Joe Davis mentioned that Skenes was entering his third season with the Pirates, Smoltz blurted, “C’mon, Pirates!”, implying that they need to get him more help. Davis immediately noted that Pittsburgh made some moves this offseason to do just that.

In other words, Pirates fans would probably prefer it if Smoltz stopped talking about their team and ace.

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