Alek Manoah has hilarious answer to John Smoltz’s pitch request (Video)
By Mark Powell
Toronto Blue Jays ace Alek Manoah was mic’d up during the second inning of the All-Star Game, and it was unique to say the least.
Manoah earned the second starter nod from Dusty Baker, just behind Shane McClanahan of the Tampa Bay Rays. McClanahan gave up two earned runs, including a home run to Paul Goldschmidt.
But Manoah fared a little better. And he did so while on the mic with the FOX broadcast booth, which made facing a group of All-Stars even tougher.
Yet, Manoah showed off his competitive fire, and even took a pitch request from Atlanta Braves Hall of Famer John Smoltz. He threw the slider, and it did not go well.
https://twitter.com/TheAthletic/status/1549560092663611394
Sexy, indeed. Manoah plunked Mets utility hitter Jeff McNeil, which New York fans surely were not happy about.
Leave it to Smoltz to stir the bot.
Alek Manoah mic’d up: Best memes and tweets
Manoah is one of the best young pitchers in the American League, and a big reason why the Blue Jays let Robbie Ray walk this past offseason. Ray is now in Seattle.
Yet, it was Manoah’s personality which shined the most on Tuesday night. It took some getting used to, but baseball fans couldn’t get enough:
One of the coolest things I can remember. Alek Manoah is awesome. Making a few fans along the way. (Would make a good tight end, too.) https://t.co/S83k715C8G
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) July 20, 2022
Alek Manoah has seized the title for best use of a mic while playing. That was awesome.
— Marc Carig (@MarcCarig) July 20, 2022
Patrick Mahomes even reacted!
Awesome to watch! https://t.co/qHxD7ff6Fo
— Patrick Mahomes II (@PatrickMahomes) July 20, 2022
That was great entertainment from Alek Manoah. Elite multitasking.
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) July 20, 2022
https://twitter.com/FOS/status/1549559777725915136
I have never come around on a idea as fast and as hard as I did on miking Alek Manoah. I hated it at first and by the end I believe it deserves an Emmy.
— Joe Posnanski (@JPosnanski) July 20, 2022
I cannot begin to tell you how much I enjoyed Alek Manoah being mic'd up while striking out the side in the All Star Game. That was baseball porn.
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) July 20, 2022
Mic'd up Alek Manoah throwing a backfoot slider on John Smoltz's recommendation and plunking Jeff McNeil on the literal back foot on an 0-2 count is my favorite moment of the All-Star Game so far
— David Adler (@_dadler) July 20, 2022
I know you can't do this in regular season games, but this is awesome hearing Alek Manoah talk his way through his inning of work. Baseball gold.
— Jared Carrabis (@Jared_Carrabis) July 20, 2022
i may be an alek manoah enjoyer going forward
— express written consent haver (@KenRosenthot) July 20, 2022
https://twitter.com/katienolan/status/1549557824514146304
Listening to Alek Manoah mic'd up for his All-Star inning just makes me want a Max Scherzer mic'd up game so bad -- 2.5 straight hours of grunts and bleeped curses
— Mike Janela (@MikeJanela) July 20, 2022
It was a bold move by FOX, but please, we need more of this in our lives.
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