John Smoltz, the Atlanta Braves’ living pitching legend of the 1990s, compared Yankee Stadium to Coors Field and enraged New York Yankees fans.
John Smoltz, now a FOX commentator, was told to ‘shut up’ by the outraged New York Yankees fanbase during Game 2 of the American League Division Series against the Toronto Blue Jays
John Smoltz compares Yankee Stadium to Coors Field and angers Yankees fans
Whenever there’s a rivalry between divisions, things get intense. But when the team is the New York Yankees, things usually go to another level. Because when you say something against the Bronx Bombers, it usually means you’ve gone up against an entire fan base.
At least that was the case for former Braves ace John Smoltz. After his recent reported comments saying, “They don’t value what you need to win games,” fans went wild. One fan even posted, “Shut up, John Smoltz!”
It’s not the first time John Smoltz has angered Yankees fans
This is not the first time John Smoltz has angered New York Yankees fans. In 2020, John Smoltz provoked the ire of Yankees fans when he compared the field dimensions of Yankee Stadium to Coors Field.
“Pitching at Yankee Stadium is like pitching at Coors Field.” Fans were outraged because that comment implied that the Bronx ballpark is too hitter-friendly, weakening its reputation as a tough place for pitchers.
“Pitching at Yankee Stadium is like pitching at Coors Field.” Fans were upset because that comment implied that the Bronx ballpark unusually favors hitters, weakening its reputation as a tough place for pitchers.
Many see that and other similar comments as proof that John Smoltz not only criticizes, but has a special kind of antipathy for the Yankees, formed by a long history and frustration. And that long history comes from his days as a Braves player. In the 1996 World Series, Smoltz, despite a stellar 0.64 ERA, suffered a 1-0 loss to Andy Pettitte, a loss that haunted him. The Yankees’ dominance continued in 1999, sweeping the Braves and cementing their reputation as the “Team of the Decade.”
So maybe it’s history talking, or maybe John Smoltz just can’t help but get involved when the Yankees are mentioned. Every time he mentions the Bronx, it somehow turns into a battlefield rather than a broadcast. So if John Smoltz ever praises Yankee Stadium, look to the sky, because something strange is definitely happening.
Yankees fans may have 100 problems, but trolling John Smoltz isn’t one of them. When John Smoltz opens his mouth, you know the Yankees are about to be criticized. He’s not subtle. Smoltz criticizes their pitching, their strategy, even the feel of Yankee Stadium, as if he’s settling old scores
Somehow, it always becomes a spectacle, and Yankees fans immediately start using their keyboards. One frustrated fan blurted out: “John Smoltz is the worst baseball commentator on television that I have had the misfortune to watch.” The comment reflects the growing irritation at Smoltz’s endless commentary, especially when he criticizes the Yankees. Fans feel that his bias makes the broadcasts exhausting, turning what should be analysis into constant opinion. It seems that now every word from Smoltz provokes debate, eye-rolling and a collective sense of fatigue.
One fan raged: “John Smoltz broadcasting Yankees games should be illegal,” expressing pure frustration online. John Smoltz’s criticism that the Yankees don’t value what they need to win baseball games only fueled more anger. Fans feel that his dislike of the Yankees seeps into the broadcasts, making objective analysis almost impossible
Year after year, his comments leave viewers divided between amusement and exasperation, unable to escape the bias. “John Smoltz is so upset that the Yankees beat him in ’96 and ’99 that, 20 years later, he supports every team they face on the broadcast.” This comment reflects how deeply Smoltz’s postseason defeats continue to shape his commentary today. Fans notice his subtle hints and favoritism towards rivals every time the Yankees take the field.
This led to another comment that read: “John Smoltz… why does it have to be John Smoltz?” Smoltz’s repeated criticism of the Yankees seems to test the patience of viewers during broadcasts. Fans feel that every word he utters has personal history, turning neutral comments into something almost vindictive. Even those who enjoy the analysis admit that his constant focus on the Bronx team makes watching the games exhausting and tense.
“John Smoltz just said that Max Fried’s velocity going up is bad for Max Fried #DoYouHaveAlzheimer’s,” posted one annoyed user. This showed how viewers struggle to follow John Smoltz’s logic during broadcasts. Fans feel that his criticisms sometimes contradict each other, making even simple analysis confusing and irritating. Repeated moments like this make the broadcasts feel less like information and more like a theater of personal opinions.John Smoltz’s comments show that perhaps even decades of greatness in baseball cannot guarantee diplomacy in broadcasting. Every time the Yankees appear, his criticism turns routine analysis into a spectacle of personal vendetta. So, with John Smoltz on the microphone, no mistake in the Bronx could go unnoticed.
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