Despite 16 losses in their last 22 games and a recent series defeat to the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees announcer Michael Kay is irked by something more than just the team’s performance.
Last week, Yankees voice Michael Kay was angry over the July 4 national anthem standoff at Yankee Stadium. On his radio show, the sportscaster labeled the behavior as “sophomoric” and “childish,” asserting that it was inappropriate for the Yankees organization. Right now, he reinforced most criticisms surrounding this episode.
What happened
On July 4, before the Yankees hosted the Cincinnati Reds in an eventual 8-4 loss, two injured Yankees relievers, Ian Hamilton and Cody Poteet, along with Reds pitchers Graham Ashcraft and Carson Spiers, engaged in a standoff during the national anthem, standing on the field at attention to see who would be the last one left. Kay, the YES Network play-by-play voice, found the behavior “childish” and expressed his disapproval on his ESPN radio show the following day.
“The stare-off that they had. Yeah, are you kidding me? That’s not the New York Yankees,” Kay said Monday morning on the “DiPietro & Rothenberg” show on ESPN.
“You don’t do that. Let other teams do that. It looks so small. … I gotta be honest, I’m not one of these people. I hate it, by the way: What would (late owner) George (Steinbrenner) do? They might have been released if George was alive. Well, again, I mean that. And the manager would have been read the riot act to let it happen. The New York Yankees. You’re wearing pinstripes.”
For Kay, the incident was a poor reflection of the franchise’s standards. He sees Thursday’s antics, coupled with other low-effort plays and endless excuses, as indicative of Boone’s overly lenient management style.
Thursday’s “infantile” behavior was simply the last straw for Kay.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
I think Cashman, s lot of the front office and minor league staff would’ve been gone after last year. Boone would’ve never been hired, but anyone managing last year’s team would’ve been gone too.