Smith’s question was blunt: “What the hell are you doing to take care of yourself?” He couldn’t wrap his head around repeated injuries in a sport that seems far less grueling than football or basketball. It’s the classic Stephen A. Smith dilemma: he loves the player, but damn, he wants to see them play!

Stephen A. Smith isn't sure how baseball players like Mike Trout keep getting injured.

"What the hell are you doing to take care of yourself? Always injured. I mean, damn, it's baseball. What are we talking about here? It's not football. It's not boxing. It's not the UFC…" pic.twitter.com/MamhcLHQKH

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) May 1, 2024

 

Of course, this sparked controversy. Smith joked it might be “karma” for Mike Trout to stay with the hapless Angels, whose last postseason appearance feels like a distant memory. The Halos, as a franchise, he insinuated, might be cursed, and it’s rubbing off on their star. Naturally, some accusations flew.

The one that stung Smith the most? Racism. He vehemently denied it, calling the accusations “irresponsible” and coming from folks who “know nothing” about him. He even invoked his own black heritage and its unique relationship with racism as proof of his innocence. So, was Smith out of line?

Was this a fair critique masked in his hyperbolic delivery? Or was this something more sinister bubbling beneath the surface? As always, Stephen A. leaves us with more questions than answers and a firestorm of debate in his wake.

Mike Trout’s Talent vs. His Timetable: Stephen A. Smith questions everything

Stephen A. is nothing if not persistent. He reiterated that he meant no disrespect to Trout’s undeniable talent: “Mike Trout is a sensational player… one of the greatest. He really, really is. And I’m a huge, huge fan.” But that fandom’s wearing thin when Trout’s “lack of availability” leaves him questioning everything.

Can someone tell forehead Stephen A. Smith to keep Mike Trout's name out his faqin' mouth.

— Ruben J. Alvarado (@Hoopadudley) May 1, 2024

The cherry on top was the Angels dig. Beyond calling them mere “afterthoughts” to the Los Angeles Dodgers, Stephen A. painted a bleak picture: No October baseball for nearly a decade! His proposed solution? “Let that man go elsewhere! He’s too great to be at home in September and October watching postseason action with us.” It’s the “tough love” approach, with a healthy dose of stirring the pot.

This sparked the ire of former MLB pitcher Jonathan ‘Papa Bond’ Papelbon. Calling into a radio show, he labeled Smith “racist” without hesitation. This is what sparked Stephen A.’s most fiery response, where he defended his character and background: “I’m a black man… A lot of times, those experiences [of racism] come courtesy of people who look like you.” And that’s the crux of the matter.

Was Smith’s criticism of Mike Trout rooted in genuine frustration, or is there something deeper? Does Stephen A.’s penchant for bombastic commentary blur the lines between valid critiques and veiled insults? The debate rages on.