Kirk Herbstreit is no stranger to taking heat from college football fans, but his recent comments about Major League Baseball opened a whole new front. The ESPN analyst waded into the baseball debate after agreeing with former Yankees catcher Jorge Posada, who called today's game “garbage.” Herbstreit’s social media rant lamented the loss of sacrifice bunts, contact hitters, and starting pitchers who go deep into games—sparking a firestorm of backlash.
“The game has been dying with the youth of America for YEARS and now is losing the core fanbase as well with this ridiculous product we’ve had to digest for the last 7-10 years,” Herbstreit wrote. “Bring back Small Ball and athleticism.” The post drew immediate criticism from MLB fans who saw it as an out-of-touch perspective, and even his ESPN colleague, former pitcher Dallas Braden, pushed back.
Braden pointed out that football has also evolved, asking, “Take the forward pass for instance… How about the spread offense? I don’t hear anyone clamoring for ’60 minutes of ground and pound’ these days.” The exchange highlighted a growing divide between traditionalists and fans who embrace baseball's modern analytics-driven approach.
Herbstreit, however, didn't back down—he clarified. In response to Braden, he wrote, “Totally understand your take and didn’t mean to make this a big thing at all. I just miss the baseball that I grew up with. Feels like the changes has eliminated speed and athleticism from the game.” The longtime Cincinnati Reds fan admitted he misses the extra strategy that came with a pitcher batting before the National League permanently adopted the designated hitter in 2022.
Despite recent rule changes that have increased stolen bases, Herbstreit believes speed is still underutilized. He also took aim at the modern emphasis on exit velocity and launch angle, arguing it has “hurt the game.” “I miss contact hitters and dudes that can FLY cause I think it creates much more action and excitement for a sport that is often dreadfully boring (and I’m a life long baseball guy),” he wrote.
Herbstreit drew a contrast with football, where he says trends are cyclical. “What trends for a decade or so becomes old and what was old (TE’s and FB’s and your ability to win the LOS and run the ball) comes BACK to the game—and we’re seeing that now in both the NFL and CFB!” he noted. For him, baseball has lost that cyclical nature, stuck in a power-hitting era that prioritizes home runs over action.
The debate echoes recent concerns Herbstreit has raised about college football, where he’s warned the sport risks losing its soul. But this time, the target was MLB, and the response was swift. Fans and analysts alike questioned whether his nostalgia ignores the excitement of today's game—like the rise of young stars and increased athleticism on the bases.
Herbstreit closed his defense with a humble note: “Not asking anyone to agree or disagree—just my take after watching a lot of baseball for the last five decades!!” Whether the debate will fade or fuel further discussion, one thing is clear: the longtime broadcaster isn't afraid to voice his love for the game, even if it means taking heat from a new crowd.
