When Spencer Strider was asked for his sports hot take, he truly gave one in response.
During an interview with the Instagram account MLB Fits, the Braves ace said he would rather play in empty ballparks like baseball had during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
And just why exactly?
He thinks that people bring too much noise to the ballpark.
“Absolutely, there should be no fans, 2020 season, no fans,” Strider said of his hot take. “Get rid of the fans, it’s too loud. It’s too loud, everybody be quiet. We don’t need the cheering, we know you’re watching. I don’t need the fans.”
He did have an odd suggestion on where fans should really be.
“You stay out the stadium, I mean, back it up. Let’s do a no lower-bowl thing. … Upper decks, great. Outfield, phenomenal. We don’t need you around the dugouts. Just try and be quiet.”
It was a curious take for Strider, who plays for Atlanta, which averages the fifth-largest home crowd in baseball, with more than 39,000 coming to see the National League East champions nightly.
Whether crowd or no crowd, Strider, 24, has put up more strong numbers in 2023, holding a major league-best 19 wins and 274 strikeouts with a 3.81 ERA.
His 2.87 FIP is also tops in the National League, putting him in contention for the Cy Young award.
But fans on social media think Strider could be even better if he got his wish.
“Imagine his numbers in Oakland,” wrote one user on X, referring to the Athletics, who have baseball’s worst home attendance with just 10,000 fans per night.
One X user even felt Strider upset some sports deities with his remarks.
“Horrible take. Baseball gods will not look fondly on this,” the user wrote.
Whether he likes it or not, Strider and the Braves will undoubtedly face packed, sellout crows in the postseason, which starts next week.
Last year, in one NLDS start on the road in Philadelphia, Strider was lit up for five runs in 2 1/3 innings.