Orioles broadcaster insults intelligence of Blue Jays fans during latest win

Baseball: America's favorite pastime. A pastime that has been celebrated for over 100 years and shared with its North American neighbor, Canada. Since 1977, Toronto has embraced its Blue Jays as part of its sporting culture, alongside the NHL's Maple Leafs and eventually the NBA's Raptors. For nearly 50 years, fans in Canada have become one with baseball tradition and its quirks.

One of those traditions across baseball is to boo when the opposing pitcher tries to pick off the home baserunner at first. Why? Well, how dare the pitcher try to get the home guy out? That's their baserunner who's trying to score, leave them alone. Apparently, that's what Orioles broadcaster Brian Roberts is wondering when it comes to fans in Toronto (let alone all of Canada).

During the eighth inning of Friday's tilt between the Blue Jays and the Orioles, opposing pitcher Shawn Dubin made a pickoff attempt to first base to try to get Myles Straw. Lead broadcaster Kevin Brown stated his confusion about fans across the league continuing to continue booing pickoff attempts, thanks to MLB's new disengagement rule that could result in a balk. While that has merit, it was Roberts' comments that followed that drew the ire of Canada.

"I gotta be real, real careful with what I say," said Roberts on the MASN broadcast. "Sometimes we had some questions about the baseball IQ of some Canadians...maybe they knew a little more about hockey than baseball."

Orioles broadcaster Brian Roberts wasn't safe from Blue Jays fans' wrath after questioning their intelligence

Despite Brown's attempts to shut down and move on from Roberts' comments, the latter continued to stand his ground and thought he was clear from any backlash, given it's an American broadcast.

Unfortunately for Roberts, the internet exists, and everybody heard it.

Was it the smartest thing to say? Probably not. Will it matter at the end of the day, once you take a look at the standings in the American League East? Definitely not.

The Blue Jays continue their three-game series agianst the Orioles Saturday afternoon and into Sunday at the Rogers Centre.