Michael Kay is a Moron

By Joe Bruno

Has the Yankees YES Network baseball announcer Michael Kay totally lost his mind, or was he
always a moron?

On Friday night October 15, the Yankees pulled out a stunning 6-5 victory over the Texas
Rangers, after being behind 5-0 going into the 7th inning. Robby Cano hit a solo home run in the 7th.
And in the 8th, the first 7 batters got on base for the Yankees. The Yanks scored five runs in the 8th, and
went on to victory, giving them a 1-0 series lead in the ACLS series. Four wins, and the Yankees win
the American League pennant.

On the post-game show, while standing on the field next to his co-host Ken Singleton, Kay
looked into the camera and proclaimed with a straight face, “This series is over.”

Singleton, a former All-Star outfielder, looked stunned and had a loopy grin on his face. “Well,
I don't think the series is over,” Singleton said. “But this is certainly a devastating loss for the
Rangers.”

In the studio, Jack Curry and John Flaherty both seemed stunned at Kay's remarks. They said
basically the same thing Singleton said, but Kay stuck to his guns. “I don't see any way the Rangers
can come back and win tomorrow afternoon with Colby Lewis on the mound against Phil Hughes.
After winning tomorrow, they Yanks go back to Yankee Stadium and even if the Yanks lose to Cliff
Lee, the series will be 2-1. I can't see any way for the Rangers to win four games in this series.”

Kay even addressed his followers on Twitter, “I said it after Game 1 against the Twins and I’m
saying it again … this series is over.”

So what happened a short 16 hours after the Yankees stunned the Rangers? Phil Hughes gets
blasted by the Rangers. Colby Lewis was impressive in 5 2/3 innings and the Yanks lost 7-2. So much
for the Yankees' momentum from the night before. And now the Yanks had to go to NY City with the
series tied 1-1, with their nemesis Cliff Lee awaiting their arrival. Last year when Lee pitched for the
Phillies against the Yankees in the World Series, he beat the Yankees twice, despite the fact the Yanks
won the series 4 games to 2.

The Yankees.com Internet bulletin board lit up like a barn fire after Kay's remarks.

MAPLEBATS said, “Kay should just move on already. He's run his course with the Yankees
and now just sounds like a big mouth fool. He sounds like a reactionary amateur so often. Exposed
their flaws? Destroy the Rangers? Uhhg. Grow up, Michael Kay.”

Veinteyocho chimed in with, “Just pay it no mind. Kay's under-qualified, lucky, but bottom
line he's just a blowhard with a big old head.”

Then there was dubzee: “Kay is an idiot and needs to shut up...rangers are a good team and will
not go down without a fight.”

I've been watching baseball on TV for more than 55 years and I have never heard an announcer
declare a playoff series over until the series was over. Period. And certainly not after a team had only
one win. So Kay was either drunk, high on drugs, or just plain stupid for what he said and when he
said it.

I'll go for door number three.

But wait. Then it gets worse.

Kay went completely off the wire when he implied on his daily radio show that Cliff Lee was a
cheater. After noting the filthiness of Lee's baseball cap in previous games, Kay insisted the
combination of resin on Lee's hat and the pitcher's sweat produces a "tackiness," making it easier to
grip the ball.

"I would think that's illegal," Kay said on 1050. "If I'm Joe Girardi, I'm telling the umpires he
(Lee) has got to wear another hat."

So according to Kay, the Rangers are dead and Cliff Lee is a cheater. What's next? Cameron
Diaz is a man?

There has been an unwritten rule in journalism since the time of the old testament. A
reporter/journalist is supposed to give the details of what he is reporting on and not become part of the
story himself. Sure Kay is entitled to give his opinion. But not when his opinion is based on no facts
whatsoever, like in his silly prediction the Rangers were dead after losing only one game. And it's one
thing to comment on Lee's hat, but another thing altogether to insist Lee coasts his hat with resin, and
combined with his sweat on his fingers, that's what's making the Yankees, and the rest of baseball
swing and miss at his pitches.

Just another small point. Cliff Lee is a free agent after this season. The Yanks obviously covet
Lee and will do their best to gather Lee into their fold, at about $20 million a year, or more. But a
Yankee employee like Kay accusing Lee of cheating isn't exactly the best selling point known to man.
Someone in the Yankee front office better tell Kay to put a sock in it, or maybe the Red Sox will wind
up with Cliff Lee next year.

The bottom line is this: Methinks Michael Kay has gone so egotistical, he thinks he can say
whatever he wants and walk away unscathed. He wants to be the story so much, he has sacrificed
whatever journalistic integrity he had left.

I say it's time for a change in the YES baseball television booth. Kay has got to go and someone
who actually makes sense should take his place.

Dr. Irwin Corey would be a better choice. Marcel Marceau too.