Doug Gottlieb's Adrian Beltre Questions Spark Controversy

Doug Gottlieb questioned if Adrian Beltre is using performance enhancing drugs in light of his impressive numbers with the Texas Rangers this year – and shook a hornet's nest on social media.

Gottlieb, a basketball analyst for Fox Sports 1 who also hosts "The Doug Gottlieb Show" on Fox Sports Radio, expressed doubts about Beltre's numbers on Twitter Monday.

Beltre, 38, is batting .301 in 53 games this season, with 58 hits. He reached the important career milestone of 3,000 hits this week and won a Golden Glove last year, according to the Dallas Morning News and Baseball Reference.

Adrian Beltre with VERY rare offensive explosion in his 30s - forgive me if I wonder 🤔🤔🤔

— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) July 31, 2017

Gottlieb's post drew fire from Fox Sport Network Rangers reporter Emily Jones and Rangers pitcher Jake Diekman, among numerous others.

This is a joke, right?

— Emily Jones (@EmilyJonesMcCoy) July 31, 2017

Stick to basketball, please.

— Jake Diekman (@JakeDiekman) July 31, 2017

ever since you moved to fs1 you've had terrible takes

— JT (@j10broeck94) July 31, 2017

Despite the criticism, Gottlieb refused to back down from his take on Beltre.

Yeah cause the Rangers haven't had any juicers. #Palmero #Conseco #Pudge #Aroid #Sosa etc etc etc https://t.co/lbiEwxKqK9

— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) July 31, 2017

Nope, just a power hitter who has better production in his 30s, same background as other PED guys, same team too https://t.co/ejUXIIfIJQ

— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) July 31, 2017

ESPN's Bomani Jones hit Gottlieb for singling out Dominican players, noted Sporting News.

you can get steroids pretty easy here, too. long as beltre is tested the same as americans, your only point is xenophobia.

— El Flaco (@bomani_jones) August 1, 2017

Gottlieb accused Jones on his radio show of playing the race card with the comment, according to the Sporting News.

Dallas Morning News baseball writer Evan Grant pointed out that Gottlieb had nothing connecting Beltre to illegal drugs other than his suspicion because he was having a strong season at 38.

Everybody gotta have a hot take, even if you have no evidence to accuse somebody. You should know better. https://t.co/Mbcln1tzWa

— Evan Grant (@Evan_P_Grant) July 31, 2017

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