Baseball Writers Association Destroys MLB Network Reporter For Her Unhinged Rant

One of the most interesting, and bizarre, stories to come out of the National League Division Series between the Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves involved something that was said in a locker room.

After Bryce Harper made the final out in Game 1 of the series by getting doubled off first base, it was reported by Jake Mintz of Fox Sports that Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia was mocking Harper in the Atlanta locker room.

“Ha ha, atta-boy, Harper!” Arcia was reported to have shouted.

Word soon got back to Bryce Harper and after each of his two moonshot home runs in Game 2 of the series he stared daggers at Arcia as he circled the bases. (Much to the annoyance of the Braves radio broadcasters.)

Several people, including some in the media and a handful of players on the Braves, were upset, thinking that anything like what Arcia said in the locker room was off limits to being made public.

One of those media members who didn’t like it was MLB Network’s Alanna Rizzo, who launched into Jake Mintz, calling him all sorts of names during her appearance on High Heat.

“I am so irritated with all of these people, these bloggers, or podcasters, or, not even reporters, not even journalists going into the clubhouse,” Rizzo ranted. “You’re ruining it for the rest of us.”

On Friday, the Baseball Writers Association of America jumped into the fray with a blistering statement about Rizzo and her rant against Fox Sports reporter, Jake Mintz.

“On Oct. 12, Jake Mintz of Fox Sports was subjected to a personal attack during a segment on Major League Baseball Network.

“For the record, Jake is a BBWAA member in good standing and has earned the right to be credentialed through his hard work and quality baseball coverage.

“To assert otherwise, in vulgar terms, is both unprofessional and unacceptable,” the BBWAA continued.

“The BBWAA is deeply troubled that the league’s own network would permit the disparaging of one of our members in this fashion. Scrutinizing our work is part of the territory but comments such as these should have no place on MLBN.”

Alanna Rizzo would walk back her comments about Mintz during her next appearance on High Heat.

“I want to give a very hearfelt apology to Jake Mintz and the entire BBWAA,” Rizzo said. “What I said yesterday about Jake was completely inappropriate. It was inaccurate and it was beyond unprofessional. I was caught up in the moment.”

So, all’s well that ends well. Unless you’re Orlando Arcia and you’re playing in Philadelphia.