Jake Arrieta can’t help but chuckle.
Arrieta is in the midst of one of the greatest starting pitching runs in Major League Baseball history, and since it’s basically come out of nowhere, the reigning National League Cy Young winner has been forced to deal with suspicious fans and pundits questioning whether he’s using performance-enhancing drugs.
Stephen A. Smith didn’t go that far Wednesday while discussing Arrieta’s dominance on ESPN’s “First Take,” but he said the Chicago Cubs pitcher shouldn’t view the suspicions as funny. And unsurprisingly, Arrieta found that suggestion laughable, just like the suspicions themselves.
Smith backtracked somewhat, perhaps realizing his comments could be construed as him accusing Arrieta of using PEDs, even if the ESPN personality prefaced his opinion on “First Take” by saying he’s not pointing any fingers.
Arrieta, who recently tossed his second career no-hitter, should just keep laughing and forget about the outside noise, assuming he really is clean. Life’s much easier that way.
Thumbnail photo via Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports Images
