Another high-profile error occurred during the MLB's controversial mid-game broadcast interviews Friday as Houston shortstop Jeremy Pena misplayed a routine second-inning fly ball .
Pena was being interviewed by Apple TV broadcast crew Wayne Randazzo and Xavier Scruggs while shifted past second base before the Mets ' Jeff McNeil skied a towering infield pop-up. The drifting Dominican shortstop then encroached well into third baseman Alex Bregman's position, prompting a miscommunication that saw both Astros let the ball drop and McNeil reach first base with a single.
Ronel Blanco promptly picked up his shortstop by picking off McNeil at first, and Pena atoned for his distracted error the next inning by depositing a two-out single into left field that gave Houston an early lead. Pena also used his opportunity on national television to heap praise on his middle infield partner and eight-time All-Star Jose Altuve, saying "He’s a veteran with the heart of a rookie. That’s special.”
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Another fortuitous bit of contact from McNeil proved the difference, however, as the New York second baseman golfed a 2-2 pitch just inches over Citi Field's short right-field fence in the sixth inning to clinch a 7-2 Mets win. McNeil's heroics continued a remarkable stretch for New York, who are now 12-2 in their last 14 games, improving their record over .500 for the first time since May 2.
Pena became the second MLB player this month to commit an error while participating in an Apple TV interview, joining fellow Caribbean infielder Kikè Hernandez. The Dodgers third baseman was speaking with Randazzo and former MLB pitcher Dontrelle Willis against the Yankees on June 8 but flubbed an early ground ball and was unable to make a play.
The MLB is the only major American sports league that sees players participate in these live, in-game interviews. Players earn $10,000, or $15,000 in the postseason, from the league's collective bargaining agreement to wear a two-way microphone for one full inning of play.
"Maybe a little bit," Hernandez responded when asked if the interview affected the play. "But I think I let the ball eat me up. It had a weird hop." Still, the financial windfall he won't think twice about doing another interview: "No because we're getting paid," he said. "I like money."
Pena's error Friday prompted another spree of outrage from the baseball community, calling for an end to these in-game interviews. Particularly in post-season environments, managers have taken exception to the practice, with the Dodgers' Dave Roberts not allowing players to participate during the 2020 Playoffs.
“I got wind of it about an hour before the game and personally I’m not a fan of it,” Roberts said. “I just — I don’t know the arrangement and I learned late. I think that’s a decision Justin [Turner] made. But I don’t see that happening with our guys going forward. Going forward, I don’t want our guys to do that.”
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