As a sports fan, it's incredibly difficult to be objective in games. As a color commentator, it's pretty much a job requirement.
Plenty of Texas Rangers fans didn't think FOX broadcaster John Smoltz was doing his job very well in Game 3 of the World Series. The Rangers clinched a 3-1 victory over the Diamondbacks to take the lead in the Series, but one of the more controversial storylines of the game came off the field.
Apparently, FOX color commentator John Smoltz, who was working the booth for the game, doesn't like the Rangers very much.
His past games would verify that fact, as Smoltz appeared to favor the Baltimore Orioles in the ALDS when they were playing the Rangers earlier this year.
The running theme of the MLB postseason is: Smoltz prefers any team the Rangers are playing against. Will Smoltz melt into a puddle if the Rangers end up winning the World Series? Unlikely, but possible.
Rangers fans rip FOX's John Smoltz for biased commentary in Game 3
takeaways from this game:
— texas tornado (bochy mode) (@ccherubrock) October 31, 2023
- jon gray is him
- evan carter is always gonna get on base
- bring on the robots to call balls and strikes
- john smoltz is insufferable
AND THE RANGERS TAKE A 2-1 SERIES LEAD IN THE 2023 WORLD SERIES
— Cutter Whitley (@iamcutterbutter) October 31, 2023
John Smoltz: pic.twitter.com/OmuBXqR4Ia
John Smoltz seeing the rangers bullpen dominate tonight after shit talking them for 8 innings pic.twitter.com/sGFdzB6Qlf
— slightly depressed Rangers fan (@DepressedRanger) October 31, 2023
John Smoltz when Pfaadt gives up 3 runs: Actually this is the greatest pitcher of all time.
— Brice Paterik (@BricePaterik) October 31, 2023
John Smoltz when Max Scherzer gives up 0 runs: This is the worst pitcher I've literally ever seen.
John Smoltz: one base running mistake is the reason why the Rangers are up.
— Shahnavaz Makhani (@MrMakhani) October 31, 2023
Not their offense, not their pitching, not their defense, but a mistake by Arizona.
Go to hell.
“This win was bigger for Texas than the loss was for Arizona.”
— Eli Jordan (@TheEliJordan) October 31, 2023
John Smoltz, what does that even mean?
Like this tweet to never have John Smoltz commentate another Rangers game ever.
— WORLD SERIES BOUND Corey’s Corner (@133Coreyscorner) October 31, 2023
One of Smoltz's head-scratching comments came at the end of the Rangers' win when he said, "This win was bigger for Texas than the loss was for Arizona." That statement implies the D-Backs are a better team than the Rangers, a fundamentally biased take that Smoltz thought was appropriate to say during a nationally televised sports event.
In Game 3, the umpire crew admittedly generated much more controversy compared to Smoltz's snarky side disses at the Rangers. Still, Smoltz's outspoken one-sided prejudices shouldn't go unnoticed.