Atlanta Braves right fielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (13) reacts after stealing his 70th base of the season against the Chicago Cubs during the tenth inning at Truist Park. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Watch: Cubs announcers were furious with stopping game to celebrate Ronald Acuna Jr. milestone

By Adam Gretz | Last updated 9/28/23

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. made history on Wednesday night by swiping his 70th base and becoming the first 40/70 player in Major League Baseball history. It was a huge accomplishment, and when he reached it the Braves briefly stopped the game to show a video tribute on the scoreboard with the umpires allowing it to happen.

This did not sit well with the Chicago Cubs broadcast team of Jon Sciambi and Jim Deshaies, both of whom seemed personally offended at the stoppage.

“We’re really stopping the game to do a highlight montage?”

The Cubs broadcasters had an interesting take on the stoppage of play after Ronald Acuña Jr. joined the 40/70 club. pic.twitter.com/ETCLvnK7J8
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) September 28, 2023

On the one hand, they do have a point. This happened in the bottom of the 10th inning in a tie game where the outcome was very important to the Cubs. While the Braves have their playoff spot locked up, the Cubs are still in a desperate fight to clinch their potential spot, especially after blowing Tuesday's game on an unbelievable error.

They needed that game, and stopping the game at such a pivotal moment probably was viewed as a distraction or disruption.

This is still a major accomplishment that nobody in the history of the sport has ever achieved. When those sorts of things happen it is not uncommon for the game to be stopped for a moment to honor the milestone. Was it a home run record a hits record or a 500th home run? Not exactly. It was still something that had never been done before in a Major League season. Anytime you hit a milestone like that, it is a huge deal.

It probably clinched the MVP for Acuna Jr., and it also led to the game-winning run to hand the Cubs another significant loss. That is what the Cubs announcers should be truly mad at.

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