MLB Twitter mocks Alex Rodriguez relentlessly after former MVP claims "analytics haven't arrived in Japan" following WBC win

While Alex Rodriguez's name may be mired in controversy, one thing is for sure, A-Rod knows baseball. In his post-career role as an analyst for FOX Sports, he has been able to convey his observations to a wide audience.

Team Japan is the hottest topic in the baseball world right now. On March 21, Shohei Ohtani and his fellow countrymen toppled the star-studded USA to capture the third World Baseball Classic title for their nation.

In the wake of Japan's 3-2 victory over Team USA (who were captained by Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout), Alex Rodriguez took some time during the post-game coverage to heap praise on the Japanese team. Reviewing the game, Rodriguez said that Japan plays a "beautiful, beautiful brand of baseball." The 47-year old Florida native also claimed that:

"Analytics has not arrived in Japan because they hit with contact, they run the bases, and they throw strikes."

"Love this by @ARod on #JapanBaseball is not analytics" - Connie Carberg

Unfortunately, for Alex Rodriguez, who already has a dubious reputation among fans, his comments did not garner him any favors on Twitter.

Alex Rodriguez remains a lightning rod for fan criticism

Many fans were unconvinced by Rodriguez's points, which many dismissed as not really having any real meaning. Many shared that they would be happier if A-Rod stopped commenting on baseball altogether.

Despite having a long and storied career, many still regard Rodriguez as a cheater. This has been evidenced by his failure to gain entry into the Baseball Hall of Fame in both 2021 and 2022.

Alex Rodriguez played in the MLB from 1994 to 2016. A three-time AL MVP Award winner, A-Rod was suspended for the entire 2014 season after his use of PEDs came to light. He retired in 2016 as a member of the New York Yankees.

Team Japan had some eye-opening stats at the World Baseball Classic

Japan was the only team in the tournament to amasse a perfect record. Although the team put together middle-of-the-road hitting numbers throughout the two-week tournament, pitching is what elevated the team to another level.

With a team ERA of just 2.29, Team Japan had the lowest ERA in the World Baseball Classic by far. Japanese pitchers also led the tournament in strikeouts and WHIP, both by significant margins.

Apart from Shohei Ohtani and a handful of other players, Team Japan was composed entirely of Japanese players who play in the NPB. Many are touting their victory as a victory for the NPB over that of the MLB.