In case you weren’t already aware, Braves color guy Joe Simpson and announcer Chip Caray used the top of the fifth inning to rant about the Dodgers attire during their batting practice. They essentially called the team embarrassing and, for whatever reason, singled out Chase Utley of all people.
People tipped me off to what they were saying on Twitter, and because sometimes I do good things, I captured it.
https://twitter.com/ChadMoriyama/status/1023383271441293312
Joe Simpson and Chip Caray call Dodgers players an embarrassment for their batting practice attire. https://t.co/OX6TpYccFY
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 29, 2018
The concern trolling over merchandising is just… *Chef Kisses Fingers*
— Chad Moriyama (@ChadMoriyama) July 29, 2018
Actually though, this was the abridged version because they continue going on about it even after this (seriously).
As you can imagine, it went a bit viral as basically everybody was dunking on them. Current players, former players, Braves fans, Dodgers fans, baseball fans, sports fans, local media, national media … baseball was united through their sheer ridiculousness.
The highlight of this was, of course, Enrique Hernandez and Justin Turner mocking them.
Tomorrow’s BP attire pic.twitter.com/cL5Yw8Hh3e
— Enrique Hernández (@kikehndez) July 29, 2018
Hey @kikehndez you got a pair of overalls i can borrow? pic.twitter.com/legFHeYENb
— Justin Turner (@redturn2) July 29, 2018
I do but they don’t have the last name on the back and how the heck are fans supposed to know who you are?!! 🤔
— Enrique Hernández (@kikehndez) July 29, 2018
👹
— Justin Turner (@redturn2) July 29, 2018
Most importantly, Jason Motte pointed out that the shirt Utley was rocking was actually to benefit the fight against cancer, which makes the whining by the announcing team look somehow even worse.
Chase Utley repping his @MotteFoundation @kikehndez #KCancer shirt and showing his support for those in the fight against cancer. Looks pretty good if you ask me!!! Get yours at https://t.co/KQvhf1wDtf and join the fight. #KCancer pic.twitter.com/JstkXC0Yer
— Jason Motte (@JMotte30) July 29, 2018
If you want the most despicable batting practice tee ever and want to help @kikehndez and @JMotte30 fight cancer you can do so here https://t.co/qF0hKMMeUk pic.twitter.com/7iK2BARnBj
— 108 Stitches (@108Stitches) July 29, 2018
Oh man.
Players checked in as well, like current Brave Brandon McCarthy and former Paul Lo Duca.
Chip, it was Chase Utley. The near universal choice for how to conduct yourself as a professional baseball player.
— Brandon McCarthy (@BMcCarthy32) July 29, 2018
https://twitter.com/paulloduca16/status/1023589311747448833
Probably not the best when a player on the team you’re announcing for is checking you in public.
Hell, Jerry Hairston took a time out from hyping Michael Jordan to address it as well.
Was always taught to worry about your own business and never worry about what another team is doing. Didn’t appreciate them pointing out Chase Utley, who was wearing a backwards K For Cancer T-Shirt. #LA #Dodgers https://t.co/GqSeOwYvgW
— Jerry Hairston, Jr. (@TheRealJHair) July 29, 2018
It might be bad when your own fans are actively dunking on you.
cc @kapaya1234 https://t.co/EqYzMWN9bK
— Craig P (@CraigDesign) July 29, 2018
cc @kapaya1234 https://t.co/j1pMbhYz4X
— Craig P (@CraigDesign) July 29, 2018
cc @kapaya1234 https://t.co/fCt1zaThaC
— Craig P (@CraigDesign) July 29, 2018
In fact, most Braves fans I’ve seen are basically saying they hope this blows up so they can get a new announcing team. So … yeah.
Hey, even celebrities joined in, as singer Brad Paisley took the time to ask Justin Turner and Joc Pederson if they were going to dress up for batting practice now.
So @redturn2 & @yungjoc650 I’m guessing you took batting practice dressed like this today… pic.twitter.com/7ywidtZjAW
— Brad Paisley (@BradPaisley) July 29, 2018
Meanwhile, Chip took to Twitter to respond and keep digging the hole deeper.
https://twitter.com/kapaya1234/status/1023407982380503042
https://twitter.com/kapaya1234/status/1023415314644697089
Imagine complaining for like three minutes on batting practice shirts and then going online to tell people to lighten up and then basically say John Rocker is chill. If there was a worse sequence, I can’t imagine it.
Dave Roberts hasn’t heard the audio yet, but he’s definitely not a fan of what he’s heard so far.
Dave Roberts did not appreciate it when he was told #Braves broadcasters criticized #Dodgers for taking BP in shorts/T-shirts: "I didn’t hear the audio. I want to hear it. But I take it personal when people question our professionalism …"
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 29, 2018
"…because I’ll put our professionalism — the way we play the game, the way we prepare every day — up against anybody. I have to hear the audio but that kind of sets me off a little bit."#Dodgers
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 29, 2018
Understandable, but I wish he just didn’t give a shit, as that’s the appropriate response.
Personally, I really really really want the Dodgers to mess around during batting practice with their attire.
https://twitter.com/ChadMoriyama/status/1023403219299446785
Unfortunately, they will apparently not being going so since it’s a day game.
It's a damn shame tomorrow is a day game, because otherwise the Dodgers would have put on the world's dumbest fashion show during batting practice
— Andy McCullough (@ByMcCullough) July 29, 2018
Day game tomorrow so #Dodgers will not be taking BP on the field. Otherwise things could get … weird.
— Bill Plunkett (@billplunkettocr) July 29, 2018
Oh well, there’s always a series in the future some time.
Anyway, feel free to contribute more people dunking on them, because there are many.