MC Hammer knocked for weak first pitch at A’s playoff game
It seems that the Oakland A’s aren’t the only ones being criticized for their lackluster performance during Wednesday night’s American League Wild Card Game. Hometown celebrity MC Hammer is also the target of a little trash talk.
Hammer, 57, threw out the ceremonial first pitch before his A’s took on — and fell to — the Tampa Bay Rays at the Oakland Coliseum. Unlike a lot of people who bounce their first-pitch tries in the dirt, or fling them in the general direction of I-880, his toss to A’s pitcher A.J. Puk (serving as the catcher) was pretty decent — if just a bit off the plate.
It was clocked at 56 MPH, more than acceptable for a casual first pitch.
Still, ESPN2 broadcaster Mike Petriello was not impressed.
“He turned 57 earlier this year, which is a shame — he could have been the first person to throw his own age,” Petriello said during ESPN2’s data-driven Statcast telecast. The comment drew hearty laughter from Petriello’s broadcast partners Jason Benetti and Eduardo Pérez.
“That’s so wrong,” Perez replied. “… You are ruthless.”
At least Petriello wasn’t completely negative. At the end of the night he tipped his cap to the Oakland fans for turning out in force and providing an electrical atmosphere:
Yo, Oakland. That ruled, outcome aside. Thanks for bringing it. pic.twitter.com/1ys0RBpTlB
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) October 3, 2019