New York Mets announcer Gary Cohen perfectly demonstrated the announcer’s curse Wednesday.
After the Mets’ rival Pittsburgh Pirates mocked him for preparing to field a bunt, the Mets made Cohen look like a fool by fielding the bunt.
“The corner kick against McNeil is waiting for a bunt,” Cohen confidently said. “I mean, are they studying this team?”
“Maybe not,” his broadcast partner added.
“This is five out of your lineup. Are you going to score five?” Added a third man to the stands, Keith Hernandez. “I mean, who thinks Jeff McNeil is going to raise a flag?” – Cohen asked incredulously.
“Look how he rebels.” Hernandez joked prophetically.
“He was the batting champion two years ago,” Cohen added just before McNeil hit a ball.
“I was expecting McNeil to bunt in the corner, but I don’t think that’s going to happen. I mean, are they studying this team?” — Gary Cohen
“Then he puts his head down and that’s it.” Cohen said shyly.
“Ger, repent!” When Hernández found out, he joked.
This is just proof that God has a sense of humor. McNeil never gives in. And as one of the best commentators in baseball and all of sports media, Gary Cohen is almost never wrong. But sometimes, like Cohen, you come out boldly and say something, and the universe says, “Look, I’m listening to you, my friend.”
The old critic’s curse rears its ugly head. If the announcer says, “So-and-so hasn’t hit a left-handed hit on the mound in 57 at-bats,” of course the batter gets a hit.
At least Cohen laughed about it.
