Matt Loede
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Detroit Tigers TV announcer and Major League Baseball Hall of Fame pitcher Jack Morris is in hot water today after a comment about Los Angeles Angels superstar outfield and pitcher Shohei Ohtani.
Morris, who was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2018, made the comments during Tuesday evening’s game between the Tigers and Angels, which Los Angeles won 8-2.
Ohtani, who is on his way to being the American League MVP in 2021, has been the most formidable player in the game this season, which has opened him up for people to take shots at him.
In the 6th inning of the Tigers’ loss, the former Tigers pitcher had an interaction with Bally Sports Detroit play-by-play announcer Matt Shepard, who threw a question at Morris as Ohtani came to the plate: “Now what do you do with Shohei Ohtani?”
Morris said with an accent: “Be very, very careful.” Ohtani was then intentionally walked.
Needless to say, it didn’t take much for people to understand the mocking of Ohtani, and by the 9th inning, Morris was on the defensive looking to make amends for his comment.
“Well, folks, Shohei Ohtani is coming to the plate and it’s been brought to my attention, and I sincerely apologize if I offended anybody, especially anybody in the Asian community for what I said about pitching and being careful to Shohei Ohtani,” Morris said prior to the ninth inning at-bat for the Angels popular star.
“I did not intend for any offensive thing, and I apologize if I did. I certainly respect and have the utmost respect for this guy and don’t blame a pitcher for walking him.”
Ohtani’s having a monster season at the plate and on the mound. He’s hitting .269 after Tuesday’s game, with 39 homers and 86 RBI. He’s also on tap to win the American League Cy Young. Ohtani has compiled a mark of 7-1 with a 2.93 ERA in 17 starts this year.
Ohtani, 23, has not responded to the comments or Morris’ mocking accent.
OMG lighten up people learn to laugh a little you will be happier and healthier it ain’t that big a deal
Agree with James. This world has gone nuts – we all need to have more fund. Next 3.5 years are going to be hard enough if we can’t laugh.
I believe the best response is “DBAP unless you need to SBAP!”
It’s amazing the things that people will bitch about these days. I doubt Ohtani even cares about that comment.
And for the record, Morris is a great game analyst. Bally’s Sports Detroit better not take him off games.
And…….of course they suspended him. Idiots.
It must really suck being a part of the mob. They`re such miserable people. Of course, they`re also frauds because you know they do they same stuff in their own lives.
I think Morris should suspended for the exact amount of time Stephen A. Smith was suspended for doing the same thing.
Yup, not at all. All races and people should be made fun of. Political correctness has run a-mock and we are seeing the degeneration of our society.
I don’t know about you, but these “I’m offended contests” seem even more un-masculine to me than usual after watching the Taliban take over an entire country in a matter of 2 days. How embarrassing to be offended by such triviality?
Well put.