Mark J. Terrill | AP

By Chris Ryan | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

NEW YORK -- There was plenty to talk about before and during Monday's game between the Yankees and Mets at Yankee Stadium. Both teams were pitching their aces, with Jacob deGrom of the Mets and Luis Severino of the Yankees on the mound. The interleague and New York City rivals were playing their final game of the 2018 Subway Series.

But instead, much of the social media talk turned to ESPN's broadcast and, specifically, the work of play-by-play announcer Keith Olbermann.

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We are ready. It is still not raining. I am wearing pants. Mets Yankees pic.twitter.com/py7A1goyjx — Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) August 13, 2018

Olbermann, who rejoined ESPN in May as a SportsCenter anchor, was tabbed as peculiar choice for Monday's game.

Some people pointed to politics as a reason for ESPN making a bad choice. Olbermann, a former MSNBC anchor prior to returning to ESPN, became a well-known and controversial political commentator before entering the sports world again.

Politics alone would be enough to stir up some controversy. But on top of that, some people just hated Olbermann's play-by-play style.

Leading the charge on the crusade against Olbermann was the Sports Pope himself. WFAN's Mike Francesa took to Twitter to thank Olbermann for making his job easy.

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The broadcast team on ESPN tonight was obviously the network’s annual gift to local radio. — Mike Francesa (@MikeFrancesa) August 14, 2018

Responses from others tuning into the game — which was broadcasted exclusively on ESPN since the network held the rights from the game's original postponement date on July 22 — followed Francesa's sentiment. People bemoaned the decision to use Olbermann before the game even started, and those comments were amplified as the night went on.

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ESPN has an exclusive window in New York because of SNB rainout. With all eyes on it, putting Olbermann in the booth was a bad decision. This game doesn't need a gimmick. — Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) August 13, 2018

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It also is not a good decision internally. How many more loyal to ESPN play-by-players than Olbermann would kill for the opportunity to do Yanks-Mets? Reward them. — Andrew Marchand (@AndrewMarchand) August 13, 2018

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The Good: Jacob DeGrom vs Luis Severino matchup

The Bad: You have to listen to Keith Olbermann announce the game

😩 — Jeremy Allen (@jeremyallen1995) August 13, 2018

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Hey @ESPN, do a quick twitter search of "Keith Olbermann" and maybe think twice next time you want him to call a game. — Binyomin Goldgrab (@bgoldgrab) August 13, 2018

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The only thing good about Keith Olbermann doing this game is that he is getting DESTROYED on Twitter — Lawrence Tornetta (@ltornetta2) August 14, 2018

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Horrible. I blocked him.



I love the two analysts but goodness is the play-play bad. pic.twitter.com/ewCT3QqtVB — Bruins (2-0) (@ESPNHockey19) August 13, 2018

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Luis Severino struggles as Yankees lose to Jacob deGrom, Mets | Rapid reaction

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1\ The entire world reacting to Keith Olbermann play by play for the Mets/Yankees game on ESPN: pic.twitter.com/vNRawOnH4v — 🥞MeltLikeButta🥞 (@JWButta) August 13, 2018

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Having to listen to Keith Olbermann announce this game is cruel and unusual punishment — Chris Briggs (@_chrisbriggs) August 13, 2018

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Keith Olbermann lost me as an audience member years ago. He has a rich voice, and talent as a broadcaster, but a toxic personality. https://t.co/uPO4HnS8cu — Nathaniel Wright (@NateAndHist) August 13, 2018

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Brendan Kuty | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

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I think it's safe to say this experiment of Keith Olbermann calling MLB games has become a disaster. He makes Joe Buck sound like Vin Scully. That's not easy to do. — Josh Gitt (@dodger1214) August 14, 2018

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What in the living God is Keith Olbermann even talking about right now? What is he saying. — Gunz (@TheGunzShow) August 14, 2018

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Here’s a picture of Keith Olbermann in the booth tonight for the Mets/Yankees game. pic.twitter.com/v9IM5hakXW — Dan LaMorte (@DanLaMorte) August 14, 2018

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Keith Olbermann on Monday Night Baseball has complained about:

-Pitcher wins

-Cy Young Voting

-Fans trying to get out of the rain

-Price of tickets

-Reviews

-Called strikes (several)

-The Mets are winning

-Stanton isn't playing

-Tim Kurkjian's all time Met's list

-Traveling — Nick Brown (@nickolasbrown77) August 14, 2018

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Keith Olbermann brings absolutely nothing to a baseball broadcast. Im not entirely sure what he brings to any sports entity at all, but he is miserable stumbling through this game with poorly timed jokes and literally no opinion that has any merit whatsoever. @espn — Justin Jefferies (@JL_Jefferies) August 14, 2018

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The ESPN booth is so ill prepared that they're asking Noah to do the play-by-play now. — The 7 Line (@The7Line) August 14, 2018

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The great thing about Keith Olbermann is that he brings liberals and conservatives together in their utter disdain for him — Posh (@WillyJoPena) August 14, 2018

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I'd rather listen to Joe Buck call a game than Keith Olbermann. — Malachi (@AlmightyMalachi) August 14, 2018

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I never understood the hate for Joe Buck as an announcer, but man, I 100% agree with Twitter that Keith Olbermann is downright awful. — Mike Gray (@MikeGray_Music) August 14, 2018

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Hey @espn do us a favor and never ever let Keith Olbermann call another baseball game. That was disgraceful. — Derek Draper (@DerekDraper33) August 14, 2018

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Chris Ryan may be reached at cryan@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ChrisRyan_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.