Joey Votto, in his first season as an in-game analyst for NBC and Peacock, pulled off the ultimate broadcaster jinx during Game 3 of the National League wild-card series. He boldly declared the Atlanta Braves were done scoring, and almost instantly, Ozzie Albies made him eat his words.
The “Rookie Mistake” Heard ‘Round the League
The moment of truth hit in the fourth inning. The Braves were already up 3-0, looking comfortable. Votto, a 17-year MLB veteran and former National League MVP who only retired as a player in 2024, felt confident enough to tell play-by-play man Matt Vasgersian, “As good as Zack Wheeler looks, I do not see the Braves scoring any more runs the rest of the way.” Talk about tempting fate!
Not even an entire inning went by before Votto’s prediction blew up in his face. Right after his confident declaration, Phillies pitcher Zack Wheeler issued a walk. Then, to twist the knife, Ozzie Albies stepped up and smacked a two-run home run. Just like that, the Braves lead stretched, and Votto’s “I do not see the Braves scoring any more runs” was proven untrue before the inning was even over. You’d think a guy who played at that level for so long would know better than to make such a rookie mistake on air!
Votto’s Wild-Card Exit, For Now
For the teams involved, the stakes in that game were massive: the winner moved on to the National League Division Series. But for Votto himself, his time as an in-game analyst was already on a clock. His season, as an in-game analyst, ends after the wild-card series regardless of what happens, because NBC’s broadcast and streaming rights don’t extend past this round.
It was a tough way for his first broadcasting season to get some viral attention, for sure. While his work with NBC concluded with the wild-card round, there’s still a chance we might see him on screen again soon. The former MVP might contribute to MLB Network as a studio analyst during the World Series. After that jinx, you can bet he’ll be a lot more careful about making any bold predictions if he gets that gig!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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