John Smoltz's Playoff Commentary Draws Groans During Braves vs. Dodgers

John Newby

10/20/2020 10:07 pm EDT

Baseball commentator John Smoltz spent 20 years of his playing career with the Atlanta Braves and found considerable success on the field. The team retired his jersey when he walked away from the game, but some fans no longer support this decision. As they explained on Twitter, they disagreed with his commentary during the National League Championship Series.

Smoltz was in the booth for the series featuring his former team and the Los Angeles Dodgers, providing commentary about the action on the field while discussing the benefits of bunting. Some Braves fans expressed happiness after hearing Smoltz's voice through their TV speakers, but they were in the minority. A large group of fans said that they didn't want the former MLB star to call any more games. They lobbed accusations about him favoring the Dodgers over the Braves and also criticized his comments about creating an app that sounded eerily similar to Twitter.

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Smoltz spent a very long time in Atlanta while making a name as an All-Star, but many fans have expressed a desire to forget these years. They proclaimed that the player-turned-commentator no longer supports the team. They repeated this message on social media throughout Game 7 of the series while lobbing critical comments toward Smoltz.

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While several fans criticized Smoltz's comments about the Dodgers, others took issue with his analysis. Many said that the commentator was explaining "obvious" aspects of the game. Others said that Smoltz was incorrect in his statements about specific players or plays.

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Did Smoltz play for the Braves? Many casual viewers and fans alike asked this question during the NLCS. Several Twitter users expressed the opinion that the longtime player-turned-commentator was actually a not-so-secret fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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There have been many discussions over the years about celebrations in baseball and other unspoken rules. Many old-school fans don't appreciate when a player hits a home run and then dances around the plates. Smoltz spoke about home run celebrations during his time in the booth, and many fans did not appreciate his comments. They said that he was "lecturing them."

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Comments about Smoltz's alleged fandom continued throughout the NLCS and after the end of the games as Twitter users argued about his commentary. Several expressed the opinion that he clearly favored the Dodgers while others said that he was walking the line between the two teams. One person simply suggested that the Braves take disciplinary measures based on Smoltz's commentary.

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Smoltz sparked criticism with his alleged "anti-Braves" commentary during the playoff series, but he is not the only former player to upset a fanbase. Former Alabama quarterback Greg McElroy is a college football analyst for ABC/ESPN and talks about some of the biggest matchups each week. According to many Alabama fans, he also has a "bias" against his former team.

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Smoltz sparked critical comments with his analysis of the NLCS, but he also entertained fans with an odd moment. He went off on a rant about people "second-guessing" everything and how someone smart needs to develop an app for this very purpose. He said that he wants a platform where people can post their armchair comments, along with a timestamp, for future reference.

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