The New York Yankees have not been able to figure out Rogers Centre this season, which is leading some fans to think something fishy is going on north of the border.
But Yankees play-by-play broadcaster Michael Kay, who of course also hosts a show on ESPN Radio in New York, wants fans and the team to prove the Toronto Blue Jays are doing something wrong if they believe that is happening.
Kay went on a huge rant on his radio show Monday, the off day of the Yankees’ ALDS against the Blue Jays, challenging fans to “prove” the Blue Jays are cheating, if they are.
The Yankees trail the Blue Jays 2-0 in the best-of-5 series and will need to win Tuesday to avoid elimination.
Michael Kay To The Yankees: ‘Figure Out’ How To Win In Toronto
The Yankees have won one game in eight tries in Toronto this year but will need to win at least Game 5 in order to reach the ALCS for the second straight year.
Kay challenged them to do so or prove something illegal was happening if it was — which a certain subset of Yankees fans have been complaining about online.
“Unless you can prove it, shut up,” Kay said. “If you think that you think that something is happening, come out and say it. Give me specifics. Otherwise, shut up and play better.”
Kay also wondered how the Blue Jays could be cheating, mainly by stealing signs, with direct pitcher-to-catcher communication serving as the leaguewide standard throughout the season.
“If you think they’re doing something illegal, you had all year since July to figure out what it is. All year,” Kay said. “Please somebody explain to me how people are picking up signs when the entire game is played with PitchCom. There’s no more fingers going down with the catcher giving signs. You hit a button and that’s it.
“What did they tap into the frequency Kenneth? That’s on you to figure it out, and unless you can prove it, shut up. Don’t hint at it.”
Michael Kay Credited The Blue Jays For Earning The Tiebreaker
The Yankees and Blue Jays each shared identical 94-68 regular-season records, but the Jays won the AL East, and tiebreaker, due to their head-to-head season-series win.
“If you win these two games in New York, you got to go back to Toronto, because the fact that they beat you in the regular season is why they won the tiebreaker,” Kay said. “You both had the same record, but they get home field advantage, and they didn’t have to play in the first round because they had the better record against you.
“Right now, you’ve played them 15 times, and they’re 10-5 against you, and you’re 4-2 at Yankee Stadium, and you’re 1-8 in Toronto.”
So the notion the Blue Jays would have to cheat to beat the Yankees is laughable to Kay.
“You’re insulting a team that has shown you from the entire season on; they’ve done a really, really good job playing baseball,” Kay said. “They don’t strike out, they put the ball in play and they don’t strike out on the road either. They put the ball in play. They make the plays defensively. But you’re going to hint and intimate that they’re doing something illegal.”
Michael Kay Rips Yankees Fans Over Blue Jays Conspiracy Theories