Michael Kay still furious about these ‘small’ Yankees: ‘They might have been released if George was alive’

Despite 16 losses in their last 22 games and a series defeat against the Boston Red Sox this weekend, something else continues to gnaw at New York Yankees announcer Michael Kay.

It happened before the Yankees hosted the Cincinnati Reds on July 4 during an eventual 8-4 loss: Then, two injured Yankees relievers Ian Hamilton and Cody Poteet and Reds pitchers Graham Ashcraft and Carson Spiers engaged in a national anthem standoff in which the players stood on the field at attention, hoping they’d be the last ones left. Kay, the YES Network play-by-play voice, couldn’t believe what he watched, calling it “childish” on his ESPN radio show a day later. But he wasn’t finished.

SIGN UP FOR OUR FREE YANKEES NEWSLETTER:

RESTORING THE GLORY

“The stare-off that they had. Yeah, are you kidding me? That’s not the New York Yankees,” Kay said Monday morning on the “DiPietro & Rothenberg” show on ESPN. “You don’t do that. Let other teams do that. It looks so small. ...

“I gotta be honest, I’m not one of these people. I hate it, by the way: What would (late owner) George (Steinbrenner) do? They might have been released if George was alive. Well, again, I mean that. And the manager would have been read the riot act to let it happen. The New York Yankees. You’re wearing pinstripes.”

Yankees manager Aaron Boone eventually intervened to call back his players as pitcher Marcus Stroman warmed up and Reds infielder Jonathan India got ready in the on-deck circle.

According to Kay, it was a bad look for a franchise that has much higher standards. The incident Thursday — in addition to other low-effort plays and more excuses — is at least partly a reflection of Boone, who always defends his players.

But Thursday’s “infantile” antics went too far for Kay.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.