Stephen A. Smith rarely dives into baseball discussions on his shows, and it’s easy to see why. On Wednesday, the ESPN personality made a glaring mistake that highlighted just how out of his depth he can be when it comes to America’s pastime.
During a segment on ESPN’s “First Take,” Smith was debating with baseball enthusiast Chris Russo about which player is having a more impressive season: Shohei Ohtani or Aaron Judge. While Smith is known for his strong opinions, his argument against Judge’s performance this season fell flat due to a critical factual error.
Smith attempted to downplay Judge’s success with the New York Yankees by claiming that part of the slugger’s stellar season was due to the “protection” he allegedly receives from having Juan Soto batting behind him in the lineup. “But you do got Juan Soto batting behind you. They can’t get around you a little bit. They gotta pitch to the brother, because you’ve got Soto waiting in the wings. So all of those things facilitate Aaron Judge being who he is,” Smith confidently stated.
The problem? Smith’s argument was entirely baseless because Soto does not bat behind Judge—he bats in front of him. In fact, Soto has never batted behind Judge at any point this season. Some might argue that it’s actually Soto who benefits from Judge’s presence in the lineup, as Judge’s power and consistency force pitchers to approach Soto carefully.
RELATED: Yankees Stand Firm in Defense of Aaron Judge After Little League Coach Accuses Him of Ignoring Kids
To make matters worse, Smith’s comments were quickly picked apart by viewers and baseball aficionados who couldn’t believe such a fundamental mistake was made on national television. The clip of Smith’s erroneous statement circulated widely on social media, serving as a reminder that even seasoned broadcasters can stumble when stepping out of their comfort zones.
Adding insult to injury, Smith’s attempt to diminish Judge’s accomplishments didn’t hold much weight when considering the outfielder’s extraordinary statistics. As of Wednesday, Judge was leading the league in multiple categories, including home runs (51), RBIs (122), on-base percentage (.465), slugging percentage (.732), and OPS (1.197). These numbers speak for themselves, making it hard for anyone to downplay the historic season Judge is having.
This slip-up not only showcased Smith’s lack of familiarity with baseball but also served as a lesson in the importance of doing your homework, especially when discussing the intricacies of a sport you’re less familiar with. While Smith is undoubtedly a skilled commentator in many areas, Wednesday’s blunder was a reminder that even the best can get tripped up when they stray too far from their expertise.
