Mike Francesa, famously known as the “Sports Pope,” has expressed his displeasure with the New York Mets for inviting Hailey Welch, the viral “Hawk Tuah” girl, to throw out the first pitch at Thursday’s day game against the Oakland A’s at Citi Field. Welch gained notoriety for a man-on-the-street interview where she made a controversial remark, which led to her brief surge in fame.
During his podcast, Francesa voiced his frustration, not just with the Mets’ performance — they blew a 5-0 lead after three innings and lost 7-6, marking their fifth defeat in six games — but also with the decision to have Welch participate in the game’s pre-show festivities, particularly on a “camp day” with many young fans in attendance.

“I know she’s in her 15 minutes of fame, she just struck a chord and went viral with some sleazy answer to a man on the street question,” Francesa said, acknowledging Welch’s rise to viral fame. “Knowing that that’s the case, that her fleeting fame was about something as suggestive as her answer was, what in the world would possess the Mets to bring her in to throw out the first ball? And, on top of it, on camp day.”
Francesa, who has often been critical of the Mets, continued his rant by criticising the team’s marketing decisions. “You have heard me say on numerous occasions, and it’s continued through the ownership change, that the Mets could screw up a one-car funeral,” he remarked.
He speculated that the decision to have Welch throw out the first pitch could lead to repercussions for the person responsible.

“Whoever in the marketing or promotional department decided it was a good idea to bring this girl in and glorify her and shine the spotlight on her and let her throw out the first pitch, which got them utterly destroyed from coast to coast, what the hell are they thinking?” Francesa questioned. He humorously added, “Could you imagine when the owner is explaining to his wife exactly who this girl is?”