4 days ago
Social Media Rips Pat McAfee's Appearance at Home Run Derby
Apparently ESPN and MLB couldn't find anyone more synonymous with the sport than a former NFL punter for Monday night's Home Run Derby.
The network and league decided to have Pat McAfee and his 'The Pat McAfee Show' co-host Ty Schmit introduce the players participating in the derby at the home of the Atlanta Braves — and it was quite the spectacle.
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McAfee caught himself nearly slipping up when introducing Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz, saying he was on the Steelers. McAfee also decided to tell a national audience that Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh has the 'fattest a** in all of professional sports.'
Fans were instantly tired of McAfee's act and ripped him across social media.
Fans expressed frustration about ESPN forcing McAfee into baseball coverage. Many called his performance 'obnoxious' and 'exhausting,' with some noting that the 60,000-plus crowd at Truist Park seemed to tune him out during the introductions.
Several users compared the situation to ESPN's overexposure of Stephen A. Smith, suggesting the network is making the same mistake by putting McAfee 'everywhere.' Others questioned why a former NFL punter was chosen to introduce MLB players at one of baseball's premier events.
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Will MLB learn from this miscue in time for next year's All-Star festivities in Philadelphia? If history tells us anything, probably not.
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