Joel Embiid, known for his prowess on the basketball court, took his talents to social media on Thursday to poke some fun at the Pittsburgh Pirates during their 11-7 loss to the Mets. Despite having only a few posts on X/Twitter, Embiid made his presence felt with some playful jabs.
First on his radar was Pirates manager Don Kelly's decision to pull starting pitcher Paul Skenes after just 2/3 of an inning. Skenes, who had a rough outing, saw his ERA skyrocket to 67.50. Embiid humorously questioned the move, posting, "Can’t believe he pulled Skenes."
Next, Embiid turned his attention to centerfielder Oneil Cruz, who had a tough time in the outfield during the first inning. After misplaying two fly balls, Embiid quipped, "Cruz, get ready to learn DH buddy!!"
The sequence began with Brett Baty at the plate. With the bases loaded and one out, Baty hit a fly ball to center field. It should have been a routine catch for Cruz, but his initial misstep toward the infield allowed the ball to sail over his head, resulting in a bases-clearing triple.
Just a pitch later, Marcus Semien hit a high fly ball to shallow center. Cruz was in position but either lost the ball in the sun or couldn't adjust to a sudden gust of wind, resulting in an RBI double. This miscue put the Mets ahead 5-2, adding to Cruz's challenging day in the field.
Embiid’s playful commentary added a layer of humor to an already eventful game, showcasing his knack for engaging with fans beyond the basketball court.