Just as the World Series between the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians starts to heat up, a new baseball rivalry was born last night on Twitter: The Oakland Athletics vs Smash Mouth.
It all started when San Francisco Chronicle writer John Shea noted the unexpected rise of Coco Crisp from disgruntled Athletic to key contributor in the Indians’ playoff run. “Coco Crisp goes from accusing A’s of benching him to prevent $13M option from vesting to hitting key RBI single for Indians in World Series,” Shea tweeted.
The San Jose-born Smash Mouth voiced their frustration with the A’s, calling them a joke and expressing frustration of many fans in the Bay Area. But it wasn’t long before the team’s official Twitter account took notice, telling the pop group that no, they can’t be friends.
@smashmouth Insulted by Smash Mouth? #Pfft pic.twitter.com/SM1Q7CcvnF
— Oakland Athletics (@Athletics) October 29, 2016
From there, things got heated pretty quickly.
@smashmouth Up late desperately tweeting for relevancy? Hey now, that's not very All-Star of you.
— Oakland Athletics (@Athletics) October 29, 2016
But Smash Mouth weren’t backing down, calling out the team for their usual frugality, and, well, Smash Mouth didn’t specifically mention the Josh Donaldson trade but let’s all just admit it’s still fresh on everyone’s minds. How’s that Franklin Barreto guy been doing in the minors?
@Athletics You guys made ZERO key additions last off season. Same this off-season? You have great fans,come on give them something!
— Smash Mouth (@smashmouth) October 29, 2016
Even A’s reliever Sean Doolittle got involved. But he blew the save.
@smashmouth @Athletics hey hey guys cmon. Why Can't We Be Friends? last year was rough but I'm A Believer.
— Sean Doolittle (@whatwouldDOOdo) October 29, 2016
The A’s then went in for the kill, bringing the ’90s into the discussion. We’re shocked they didn’t call Shrek to come out of the bullpen.
@smashmouth @whatwouldDOOdo Guess you've got it all figured out. Except how to make a hit since 1999.
— Oakland Athletics (@Athletics) October 29, 2016
Smash Mouth tried to keep the smack limited to baseball talk. But the A’s weren’t having it. They said Smash Mouth have no fans — this from a team that finished 29th out of 30 in 2016 MLB attendance, behind only the Tampa Bay Rays. According to OddsShark, they also finished the season with the 28th best offense in baseball.
So what was that about a lack of hits and fans?
@smashmouth @510ProSports @whatwouldDOOdo And you have no fans. They all graduated college 18 years ago and grew up. Do the same.
— Oakland Athletics (@Athletics) October 29, 2016
Smash Mouth tried to point out they had a hit in 2006. And they just packed Boston Common for Outside The Box fest, so there’s that, too.
@Athletics @whatwouldDOOdo We had one in 2006 but NO we don't have it figured out but the effort is there. That's all fans ask for.
— Smash Mouth (@smashmouth) October 29, 2016
Support on either side of the battle was a bit hard to figure out, but things seemed to have quieted down… for now.
@Athletics @smashmouth They have more hits than Billy Beane has titles or pennants as a GM, even if some of those songs are pretty crappy
— Nate Gartrell (@NateGartrell) October 29, 2016