The New York Mets’ TV announcers were oddly critical of Washington Nationals fans for not applauding Max Scherzer enough during Wednesday’s game between the teams.
The Nats won the contest 4-2 behind Scherzer’s 7.1 innings of two-hit scoreless ball. Though the fans applauded and gave Scherzer a standing ovation as he came off the field during the eighth when he was removed for the game, they weren’t supportive enough for the taste of the Mets’ SNY announcers when the pitcher came to bat in the 7th.
“So now Scherzer gets a golf clap from the crowd,” Gary Cohen said via the Washington Post. “I mean, what is that? The guy’s working on a one-hit shutout and he comes to bat in the bottom of the seventh and he got barely a golf clap. I mean it’s his hometown fans. He should’ve gotten a standing ovation.”
“Something, a little louder than that,” Ron Darling agreed. “Certainly.”
Cohen then continued to be critical.
“I just think that so many people in the ballpark don’t pay attention to the game and I have no other explanation for it,” Cohen said. “How can it be that your pitcher – your ace pitcher – is working on a one-hit shutout against your rival on a beautiful night in late June and he comes to bat in the bottom of the seventh and he doesn’t get a rousing ovation?”
Darling then said that Scherzer had spoiled the fans to the point that they don’t view the shutout as worthy of a large applause, while Keith Hernandez suggested the fans were too busy on their phones.
Maybe they could have shown greater gratitude when Scherzer came to bat, but Nats fans sure got it right when the pitcher was finally lifted from the game:
Scherzer: 10 strikeouts, 7 1/3 innings, and a standing ovation. #IBackTheNats pic.twitter.com/HMjbURFV5C
— Nationals on MASN (@masnNationals) June 30, 2016
