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Fox Sports’ bowtie-wearing MLB reporter Ken Rosenthal is getting ripped for implying on the broadcast that the Los Angeles Dodgers essentially threw Game 2 and Game 5 of the National League Championship Series against the New York Mets.
During Fox’s broadcast of Game 6 of the NLCS between the Mets and Dodgers on Sunday night, Ken Rosenthal hopped on the airwaves to suggest that Roberts “conceded” the two games that Los Angeles lost during the series.
The veteran MLB reporter praised the longtime Dodgers manager for the “discipline” he showed in Games 2 and Games 5, in which the Dodgers lost by a combined score of 19-9.
“It took incredible discipline from Roberts not to chase those victories in Game 2 and Game 5,” Rosenthal said during the bottom of the seventh inning of Sunday night’s Game 6, in which the Mets were trailing by just 3 runs.
“And frankly it was not a great look, effectively conceding postseason games. But should they hold on, the end will justify the means. He had to manage this way because he was short-handed. Short-handed with his rotation. Short-handed in his bullpen once they lost Alex Vesia.”
Interesting take from Ken Rosenthal on Dave Roberts’ NLCS strategy. pic.twitter.com/WHv36XV81r
— The Comeback MLB (@thecomebackmlb) October 21, 2024
Rosenthal’s comments were bristled at by a majority of baseball fans, particularly those rooting for the Mets, as they believe his assessment fails to get the Mets any credit.
“Ken Rosenthal saying on the broadcast that the Dodgers conceded Games 2 and 5 and praising Roberts for showing restraint in doing so is honestly so incredibly disrespectful and it makes me mad,” read one tweet with over 200,000 views.
Rosenthal also caught heat for painting the Dodgers as a team that had to struggle with adversity this season despite having spent $1 billion on players in the offseason.
“’Dodgers had to overcome a lot this season…’ the framing of this by Ken Rosenthal and the national media is so tired they literally spent a billion dollars this offseason. Just rich that they’re viewed as some sort of plucky underdog,” read another tweet ripping Rosenthal.
“Dave Roberts had them walk Lindor to get to Mark Vientos bc he underestimated Mark, PLEASE do not try to pretend that is a man playing 4-dimensional chess giving up playoff games. What is Ken Rosenthal smoking?” added another baseball fan.
With their win over the New York Mets in the NLCS, the Dodgers will face off against the New York Yankees in the World Series, which begins on Friday, October 25.