This past weekend couldn’t have gone much worse for baseball fans in New York. The Mets dropped three of four to their NL East rival Atlanta Braves (outscored 34-3 in the three losses) and somehow didn’t come away with New York’s worst loss of the weekend.
That unfortunate distinction belonged to the New York Yankees.
The Yankees had a chance to win their series against the Marlins on Sunday and went into the ninth inning with a comfortable four-run lead. In fact, no Yankees team had lost after holding a four-plus run lead in the ninth inning since 2021 against Houston. It looked like they were in for a happy flight to Atlanta, but then the wheels fell off. The Marlins put together a rally with four hits, two walks and a massive error to win, 8-7.
When Jake Burger’s walk-off single to left completed the comeback, Yankees announcer Michael Kay summed up the embarrassing loss to perfection.
"A brutal, gut-wrenching loss for the New York Yankees, as the Marlins win 8-7. Improbable, unbelievable, inconceivable, and absolutely devastating."- Michael Kay
"You can't make this up… This is a terrible loss for the New York Yankees."- Paul O'Neill ⚾️🎙️ pic.twitter.com/BbyqJI4j7w
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) August 13, 2023
And let’s be honest: That loss deserved all the criticism from the Yankees’ own broadcast booth. The Orioles should take notes.
They have baseball’s No. 2 payroll (behind the Mets) and are in last place in the AL East.
Fans appreciated Kay’s willingness to call the Yankees out after such a terrible defeat.
This was how Twitter reacted
Michael Kay is the best in the business. This is exactly how a regional broadcaster should react in a loss of this fashion. He’s not cheering for the other team, he sounds pissed—just like the listeners. Still kept it professional too. THAT is how it’s done! https://t.co/Wbd1Czdhlg
— Sammy James🔺 (@HebHammer94) August 14, 2023
the orioles have just fired michael kay https://t.co/il6K5LAne7
— Listen Here Baseball Commissioner (@spacemnkymafia) August 13, 2023
John Angelos would suspend them both. https://t.co/tovoeMLp5f
— Matt Taylor (@roarfrom34) August 14, 2023
MASN has just indefinitely suspended Michael Kay for negative discussion about the team he covers https://t.co/QhXfbZA7b3
— Christian Katt (@CKattSports) August 13, 2023
The @Orioles owners probably want to suspend these guys so badly too. https://t.co/JjMqjtxW87
— Wes Crochet 🚾 (@WesC512) August 14, 2023
Great call by Kay.
He’s fired in Baltimore. https://t.co/ObqT6yZMrI— Mike Harrington (@ByMHarrington) August 13, 2023
An absolutely solid, spot-on call by a great broadcasting team. https://t.co/T6n5obOgsM
— Rob Adams (@double5) August 13, 2023
I enjoyed this more than the Marlins winning call! https://t.co/X64JjldhUE
— Neal Bennett (@nbace) August 14, 2023
Pretty good call https://t.co/zsgRtnin6D
— I dream a highway (@kubrabenelli) August 13, 2023