The Angels and Astros took the field for Sunday Night Baseball. During the game, Buster Olney conducted a live interview with manager Phil Nevin from the Angels’ dugout.
The ESPN reporter asked him some questions, including prodding about a potential Shohei Ohtani trade amid the recent increase in speculation over the two-way superstar’s future in Anaheim.
“Really with him it hasn’t come up. It’s all business. We’re focused on winning baseball games right now and getting back to where we were a couple weeks ago and hopefully those rumors go away again,” said Nevin in response to a question from Olney.
"It's all business."
— ESPN (@espn) July 17, 2023
Phil Nevin on Shohei Ohtani's future with the Angels. pic.twitter.com/pt2H8s3Nvh
Some fans weren’t happy with Olney, suggesting it wasn’t fair for the reporter to ask the Angels manager about a trade involving the best player in baseball in the middle of an ongoing game.
Why ask this mid game?
— Trey (@treyburgs) July 17, 2023
Buster had 1 talking point. He hasn’t talked about anything else tonight. You’re better off watching the game on mute.
— Chris Ferera (@ChrisFerera) July 17, 2023
These announcers are horrible! Stop talking about trading Ohtani and focus on the game!
— Beth 🌻 (@Bsteiner3757) July 17, 2023
Why does espn have to ask this straight up in the middle of a game? Lol. https://t.co/IWlLJvlCQY
— Joshua Wertheim (@joshwertheim) July 17, 2023
This is so unprofessional https://t.co/apaw7iB3Gn
— Minji Jihyo Fletcher 🍯 (@TWICEKarma) July 17, 2023
genuinely one of the most unprofessional, slanted questions you could possibly ask and i wouldnt have blamed phil if he left mid interview https://t.co/D0ksnqOiMI
— saya (@uyohs_) July 17, 2023
this is crazy to ask mid game https://t.co/kbIPK2Iqhv
— Joe (@WestCoastJoe) July 17, 2023
Do better…. I am surprised nevin was polite with his response. https://t.co/heeiP6XMl0
— L. Ross (@Lross1983) July 17, 2023