Michael Kay and A-Rod catch heat for non-Yankees playoff broadcast
By Scott Rogust
Michael Kay and Alex Rodriguez called Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies, and fans reacted on Twitter.
The 2022 MLB postseason officially began on Friday, Oct. 7 with the Wild Card Series’. The second game of the day was between the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies, airing at 2:00 p.m. ET on ABC.
Baseball fans were in for quite a shock, as the commentary team for the game was Michael Kay and Alex Rodriguez. Kay is best known for being the play-by-play commentator for New York Yankees games on YES Network, with Rodriguez spending the last half of his career playing for New York. Of course, the duo are part of ESPN’s alternate broadcast, the “KayRod Cast.”
To say Twitter users were caught off guard was an understatement. That, and some were critical of the duo’s commentary during Cardinals vs. Phillies.
MLB Twitter reacts to Michael Kay, Alex Rodriguez commentary team during Cardinals vs. Phillies
Hearing Michael Kay call a game without the Yankees in it is so odd 😂
— 4 Train Savages (@FourSavages) October 7, 2022
pic.twitter.com/pxAUNP3gOy
I was like “huh it’s weird that Michael Kay and A-Rod are calling a non-Yankees game” and lmao they’re just talking about how everything in the game relates to the Yankees
— Rodger Sherman (@rodger) October 7, 2022
Michael Kay doing this game has to be the weirdest thing ever. https://t.co/0bnAsR4Z44
— Jarid Hodgy ⚾️ (@HodgyJarid) October 7, 2022
Michael Kay calling a Phillies-Cardinals game is breaking my brain
— Stuckey (@Stuckey2) October 7, 2022
Phillies fans have to go 8 years without a postseason berth and then in their first game back in it they have to listen to Michael Kay and Arod, I am very sorry Philadelphia
— Brian (@Ga1act1c) October 7, 2022
Michael Kay can't stop talking about the Yankees during the Phils/Cards game. It is basically, "Schwarber hits a lot of HRs. You know who hit more? Aaron Judge."
— AJ (@NCSox) October 7, 2022
Listening to Michael Kay not on YES and not doing a Yankees game is so weird
— Derk (@captainderk) October 7, 2022
This is the first time I’ve really listened to Michael Kay and ARod. Do they really have such terribly chemistry all the time? Their transitions are so bad.
— stlCupofJoe (@stlCupofJoe) October 7, 2022
This is what I mean when I say Michael Kay is terrible. Literal extended periods of time after plays where he just doesn’t say a word. No one will ever change my mind on this Lmao.
— MET FOR LIFE NIMMO (@NimmOBP) October 7, 2022
When it comes to Kay, he does get a bit of the Joe Buck treatment on social media. As is the case with any commentator, either fans like them, or they do not. Regardless of your thoughts on Kay, it is weird to listen to him call anything other than a Yankee game.
Kay and Rodriguez hosted the “KayRod Cast” that would broadcast alternatively of the regular Sunday Night Baseball broadcast.
With the Wild Card Series taking place exclusively on ESPN/ABC, Kay and Rodriguez were tabbed to call the entire Cardinals vs. Phillies series, alongside Alden Gonzalez. Here are the other commentary teams for the Wild Card Series, as announced by ESPN Public Relations.
- San Diego Padres vs. New York Mets: Karl Ravech, Eduardo Perez, David Cone and Buster Olney
- Tampa Bay Rays vs. Cleveland Guardians: Jon “Boog” Sciambi, Doug Glanville and Jesse Rogers
- Seattle Mariners vs. Toronto Blue Jays: Dave Flemming, Jessica Mendoza, Tim Kurkjian and Coley Harvey
After the Wild Card round, the Division Series’ will air on FOX and TBS.
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