Maybe I have been out of the U.S. too long.

Or maybe this is just some collective American madness that feeds on itself and at the end of it … we all apparently hate Fox’s World Series broadcast voice Joe Buck.

How do we know?

Let’s start with the last-minute push, this week, to get Fox to replace Buck as their play-by-play man with Bob Uecker. A petition calling for that change got at least 45,000 signatures.

(Fox was unmoved. Buck said he would enjoy having Uecker in the broadcast booth, perhaps not aware that the petition wanted Uecker to replace Buck, not join up with him.)

Then there are the random and numerous online complaints about him and his work, including this fairly wide-ranging trashing from a blogger, which ranges from the Buck professional to the personal.

The default opinion seems to be … Joe Buck sucks.

I do not share that opinion.

I like Joe Buck and am pleased, when I tune in to the postseason in the middle of the French night, that he is doing the World Series — his 21st in succession for Fox.

He is a sure presence behind the microphone, narrating the basics, delving into background, delivering the obscure stat, seamlessly handing over the narrative, every minute or two, to Hall of Fame former pitcher John Smoltz (who also is very good).

Buck rarely stammers or stutters. He is never at a loss for words. He moves the game along. His timing is good. His voice is pleasant. He knows his stuff.

I like that he does not have bouts of shouting, which apparently rankles many of his critics, who believe he is emotionless. (The David Tyree helmet catch in Super Bowl 42 is often cited.)

Buck, 47, did a question-and-answer session with Esquire magazine this week, and he touches on most of the major talking points regarding him and his career.

Everything from his hair plugs to the abuse he gets on social media to his belief that the root of the negative opinions of many fans comes down to the reality that the average listener “only wants to hear the game done from their side. And if you dare to talk about the other team you’re dead to them”.

He is aware that he is not popular. In his Twitter bio he writes: “I love all teams except yours.” Which shows a sense of humor.

His autobiography, which is coming out next month, is entitled: Lucky Bastard — a reference to those who think his career is due to his father being Hall of Fame broadcaster Jack Buck.

His critics also seem to think he is a “house” man, who is not going to be too opinionated or stake out a personal opinion, as well as a guy who never goes away, who who somehow manages to make many fans convinced he is an enemy of their team.

I am not interested in going to deeply into any of that. All I want, when watching a baseball game, is someone who enhances my understanding of the proceedings and does so in a smooth and professional way.

Joe Buck does that.

I like him.