How much technology is too much in the sports journalism world? For the Seattle Mariners reporter Angie Mentink, a brief experiment with AI turned into a public debate.

The Mariners did not have a good time going against the San Diego Padres in their first 2 games of the series. In the first game, the Mariners scored only one run. In the second game, the Mariners had a hold on the game till the last inning, but then, they let it slip. Still, the trouble is not just about the game.

Mariners reporter Angie Mentink was seen using AI to prepare to ask questions after the tough loss to the Padres. NESN and Foul Territory reporter, Alanna Rizzo, backed Mentink and called out the fan who filmed the video.

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“Angie Mentink has been in this game for decades… She knows ball as they say… I’m upset about this person doing this to her.”

Angie Mentink herself came out after the incident and wrote, “I’m late to the AI party. Earlier this season, I experimented with AI to see if it had any questions to add to my list for my postgame coverage. We’ve come a long way from pen and paper when I started in 1997.”

Angie Mentink has been around the Seattle Mariners for a long time and knows the game well. She has covered the team for nearly 30 years and is known for her smart takes and calm way of talking about baseball.

That is why the video caught people off guard.

It was not some new reporter learning on the job; it was someone with years of experience being put under the spotlight for one small moment.

The moment came after a tough 7-6 loss to the San Diego Padres.

The Mariners started the game strong and built a 6-2 lead, with Emerson Hancock pitching well and the lineup doing its job. They held the Padres quiet for most of the game and looked set for an easy win. But everything went wrong in the ninth inning.

Andrés Muñoz could not close it out, the bullpen gave up runs, and Jackson Merrill ended it with a walk-off double.

That is when the video by a fan account, Cole Smith, started to spread.

A fan recorded Mentink using Google Gemini, searching “good questions after a tough loss in baseball.” The timing made it look worse because the game had just slipped away painfully.

Fans were split after that. Some said it looked lazy, while others said it was normal to use tools like this to get ideas. In the end, it turned into a bigger debate than it needed to be, all from one short clip.

MLB world split over Mariners reporter using AI

“If you need AI to come up with questions for you, then you shouldn’t be a reporter. It’s pretty simple,” commented one. Reports show journalists already use AI in real settings, with nearly 9% of articles containing AI assistance in some form. The clip involving Angie Mentink also lacked context, as she was experimenting with ideas, not outsourcing her thinking. In a fast postgame setting, phrasing quickly can matter as much as raw instinct.

Another wrote, “This is not a laughing matter. Kids have been expelled from school for less, people have lost high-paying jobs doing similar work.” This reflected growing distrust toward AI use in workplaces. Cases exist where reporters faced serious consequences for AI misuse, especially when accuracy or attribution standards were compromised.

The video involving Angie Mentink gained traction without context, despite her recovering from a severe stroke and returning to work. “I can’t believe you think this is a joke. U should be ashamed of urself,” one fan captured the emotional backlash that’s fueled more by perception than full information. The incident highlights how quickly narratives form online, often ignoring details that change the entire situation.

“No, this was a stroke victim back at work for the first time — weeks ago — trying to regain her bearings,” shows how context changes the entire meaning of a viral clip. Daniel Kramer also noted the video was not from the same Mariners loss, correcting the framing around timing and intent. Reports confirm Angie Mentink was returning to coverage after a severe stroke, implying that AI use was probably part of the adjustment, not the replacement of skill.

Fans didn’t hold back to support the decade-long reporter, “I have zero problem with that video of you… Legit method to get ideas. Good for you for being willing to try the new tools.” Recent reports confirm she was using Google Gemini only to brainstorm postgame questions, not to replace reporting judgment entirely. The footage also circulated without clarity on timing or setting.

“You’re good. Nothing shameful in using AI to brainstorm,” read another comment. Gallup data shows that about half of employees now use AI tools at work, especially for writing and idea generation. In journalism, studies also show that most reporters already rely on AI for drafting, editing, or generating angles under tight deadlines.

While taking assistance from the tool seems harmless, overuse or over-reliance on AI is what fans are probably pointing at. And when such an action comes from a veteran reporter, criticism can be expected. However, looking at the broader perspective, especially the discussion from other reporters, even Ken Rosenthal, can put the matter to rest.