Over the years, on any given summer day, you could ingest up to five hours of felony-grade Kay - via The Michael Kay Show on radio, the Yankee game on YES and the seemingly endless CenterStage. Since the retirement of John Sterling, it is Kay - not Aaron Judge, not Hal, not even Cooperstown Cashman - who shapes the Yankee world.
His knowledge charms Joe Girardi. His wit astounds Paul O'Neill. His musical tastes - or lack thereof - befuddle David Cone. A Bronx native, Kay grew up worshipping Bobby Murcer. After graduating from Fordham, he got a job writing tidbits for the New York Post and started announcing in 1992. At one point, in 2019, Kay talked so much each day that he needed surgery on his vocal chords. (Fun Fact: Kay claims to eat the chicken tenders at each ballpark the Yankees visit, so he can post reviews online. Not sure if that ever caught fire.)
Last night, Kay bloviated through four hours of rain and frustration, as the Yankees squandered a rare great start from Carlos Rodon.
At the end, Kay sounded like everyone who follows the '25 Yankees.
He sounded done.
"A miserable outcome on a miserable night," he said, as the last out was recorded.
Yep. That's what it was.
It's fortunate that nobody follows MLB standings in May. Right now, the Yankees are the lone AL East team with a record over .500, and you don't need Gordon Lightfoot to see the leaks in this boat. Aaron Judge cannot keep up a .400 pace. Ben Rice is fading. Anthony Volpe isn't Jeter; he might not even be Didi. We have two reliable starters and a bullpen collapsing from overuse. I could go on. What's the point? But when we near the eighth inning, you can sense hope draining.
Last night, it especially hurt as Tyler Wade - a former Yank, now 30 - launched the winning rally. Tonight, though, it could be much worse.
Tonight, assuming it doesn't rain, we'll face Michael King, whom we traded two winters ago for one season of the Great Ingrate. King has become one of the best pitchers in baseball.
Yes, tonight, we will be facing - wait for it, drum roll, please...
The Real Michael K.
Williams was charged with three runs, increasing his ERA to 10.03 in 14 games this season.
ReplyDeleteYanks did a great job killing the joyful Knicks vibe.
ReplyDeleteAs Ye Sow, So Shall Ye Reap…is this finally the season of the epic collapse, when the team finishes below .500? I ask3 my Magic 8 Ball 🎱 and all I got was this: ☠️☠️☠️☠️
ReplyDeleteWe've been waiting for that for a while. 2023 was the closest thing to it, and they still finished just over .500.
DeleteBoones decisions have at least cost us 4 games already ... stupid ass
ReplyDeleteHe's unbelievable!
Delete🎯
DeleteAlas, L'il Tony isn't close to Sir Didi.
ReplyDeleteYep, not even in the same conversation!
DeleteHoss, I saw your comment about the Keefe article that I wrote yesterday. Sorry that I didn't make clear that you always want Judge hitting #3, or even #4. I guess I assumed that everyone knew that. I was only ranting about "Keefe's beef" with Boone on that point.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, last night was another illustration of what I was saying about Judge in the #2 slot. He tends to run the bases more aggressively. He thinks he's a quasi-leadoff man. (And that's what he is, hitting #2, if he hits a single or gets walked.) He got thrown out at home in the 1st inning. Maybe a little too aggressive there. Probably should've just let Goldschmidt bat with 2nd and 3rd and 1 out. Wouldn't you know it, that ended up being the difference in the game. And don't you just hold your breath whenever Judge has to slide into a base on a close play?
about the Keefe article that I wrote ABOUT yesterday
DeleteSorry!
I tuned out of that stupid game when they covered the field with a 2-0 Yankee lead. Saw on the news that they butchered the rest of the game.
ReplyDeleteAnother one thrown in the shitter by BaBoone. He does not realize that Devin Williams should be brought along slowly, like measuring his progress over a couple of months? A few good outings, and he throws the new Yankee Arsonist into a pretty difficult situation, with the terrible weather, very cool temps, only a three run lead, and a very good hitting Padres team. What was wrong with Cruz starting the 8th? I know managers now like to pitch a reliever with two outs to get the last out of an inning, then go to another reliever to start the next inning, but just because everyone else does it, does NOT mean that Boone has to do it, particularly last night. Every game should be managed for itself.
Weaver had been more hittable this year so far. Was making mistakes. Yesterday, the mistakes caught up with him. Made two fat pitches, which should've been hit, and they were hit.
ReplyDeleteGoing back to the Judge hitting #2 thing, if I was a pitcher, that's where I'd like him to hit. If I get the leadoff man out in the 1st, then I can throw nasty pitches to Judge with the bases empty, and if he walks, then he walks. Even if the leadoff man reaches, I'll take my chances throwing nasty pitches or walking Judge.
ReplyDeleteIf Judge hits #3, and both #1 and #2 reach, then I have a big problem. If only one of the two men reached base, Judge has seen the pitcher throw a lot more pitches already. He's in better position to gauge the pitcher than if he hit #2.
Judge hits a lot of home runs in the 1st inning. If the leadoff man doesn't get on, it's only a solo homer.
On Sunday, Volpe said his shoulder was sore and stiff. Boone said he'd likely take batting practice that day to gauge the injury. On Monday, Volpe played. I don't know about you, but I find that unbelievable. Seems he should hit the DL for 7 days at least, just to get the stiffness and soreness reduced. For some crazy reason, they like to play Volpe like a rented mule. He doesn't get any rest days, like the others. He plays everyday, hot or cold, injured or not. When you have good fielders like Peraza on the team, Volpe should get a rest at least every ten to twelve games or so.
ReplyDeleteLast thing, looks like we found another team that would kill the Yankees in a playoff series. They better wake up soon, if they keep going at this rate, there won't be any playoffs.
ReplyDeleteJoe from AZ....wait, Boone has only cost us four games so far?
ReplyDeleteThat may be correct, but it sure seems like more. Because, after all, Boone is an idiot.
I saw the Islanders won the NHL draft lotto last night. 'Twas a mathematic miracle. Wonder how they'll fuck that up this time? The last time they picked #1, they got John Tavares, who turned out to be pretty good, but not a "generational talent". And ended up leaving for pajamas in Toronto, with "we don't need you" chants.
ReplyDeleteIt's a weak draft...they are better off trading it off...
DeleteYeah, I think you're right. The scouts are saying that 18 year old defenseman who played only 17 games this year is the consensus #1 pick. But that really scares me, that he only played 17 games and he's that young. What do they really know about how good he is? Seriously, 17 games and they think he's great? Sounds like a freaking disaster of a pick, if you ask me.
Delete"Better to run to Toronto, than to run to a girl you don't want to."
ReplyDelete—Groucho Marx
That is awesome. I'm going to have to remember that one. Especially before ordering that crappy massage service whilst on the road.
DeleteSorry, just thought we needed a little Groucho...
ReplyDeleteWe always need a little Groucho.
DeleteEverything Hammer says, and more. San Diego is a good team, and they're a good team not because they're filled with superstars, though they have a couple, but because they do all sorts of little things to win. The Yankees do not.
ReplyDeleteBogaerts botched that throw from Tatis in the first because Rice—nicely—got in the way. But he recovered immediately, knew exactly what the situation was, and made a great peg home to nail Judge.
As Hammer notes, that was the difference in the game. Hard to picture any Yankee making that play...
...A little later, SD steals what could have been a key base, because...everybody steals on us. Our pitchers don't really bother keeping anyone on. Does anyone say anything to them about this? No, they do not. Then came the pop up we let fall, because...
ReplyDelete...We're the Yankees. They act all the time now as if they were watching Cashman's press conferences. As if they feel the team is just stuffed full of talent, with more talent waiting in the minors, and they don't have to try all that hard to win. It's ridiculous. Their fundamentals stink, and they rarely seem to have a plan in mind for any part of the game. Half the time, they just look disengaged.
ReplyDeleteOne more thing: playing Volpe last night was jaw-dropping. Is he hurt or not? That needs to be determined, period. (And whatever he is, he stinks.)
ReplyDeleteI wanted to trade Volpe last year, after that ridiculous error against the Orioles, which was followed by the Verdugo face flop. He ain't proven me wrong yet.
ReplyDelete