Michael Kay watches more Yankees baseball than any TV broadcaster. What the YES Network play-by-play announcer is seeing from the 2018 Baby Bombers is downright frightening for the rest of Major League Baseball.
The Yankees (24-10) and Red Sox (25-9) bring the two best records in baseball into the start of a three-game series Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium (YES; 7:05 p.m. ET). Led by Mookie Betts and key free-agent signing J.D. Martinez, the Red Sox got off to a blistering start.
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But the Yankees, led by Didi Gregorius, Aaron Judge, Giancarlo Stanton and Gary Sanchez, are coming on strong, Kay said. Don't forget, the Bronx Bombers are still missing lefty-swinging first baseman Greg Bird to go with the power-hitting Judge, Sanchez and Stanton. Add in dynamic rookie Gleyber Torres and the Yankees are off to their best start in 15 years.
"Their lineup is scary," Kay told Sporting News. "They're doing this without Greg Bird — and Stanton hasn't really hit yet. I don't know any pitcher that's going to want to pitch to that lineup. There’s no break. I mean, there’s absolutely no break."
The Yankees boast young ace Luis Severino and old pro CC Sabathia at the top of their rotation, but Kay figures general manager Brian Cashman will look to add a big-time starter by the trade deadline. The Yankees have the chips to swing a deal, namely young prospects such as outfielder Clint Frazier.
"I think they probably need one more [starting pitcher]. This way they have Severino, and that big pitcher, to go against the two [opposing] pitchers in the playoff series," Kay said. "So I think [Cashman] probably does. He certainly has the collateral for it with all the players in the minor leagues."
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The intriguing possibility that Judge and Stanton will form a latter-day Mickey Mantle-Roger Maris home-run duo in the Bronx is helping drive TV interest in the Yankees. YES is seeing the results.
18 games without a day off 🔥
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 7, 2018
16 victories 🔥
3 walk-offs 🔥
3 sweeps 🔥
What a run it has been for the New York @Yankees 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/shfoPCzKWd
The network's game ratings were up 9 percent through April 30 from the same period last year. Nine game telecasts have already scored 4.0 TV ratings or higher compared with three during the same period in 2017. Ratings for YES's simulcast of "The Michael Kay Show," which airs on ESPN Radio, are up 21 percent. Fans viewed 18 million Yankees videos over YES's digital platform in April, up 160 percent from last year.
The continuing question is when Stanton, the reigning National League MVP who pounded 59 homers and drove in 132 runs last season, will snap out of his funk. The big slugger is hitting a meager .227 with seven homers and 19 RBIs through May 7. Will Stanton end up being Reggie Jackson, a star who embraced New York, or another Ed Whitson, who wilted under the bright lights of the Big Apple?
Kay thinks a Stanton bust-out is just a matter of time. Stanton is not only adjusting to different positions, he's adjusting to being a DH in the American League.
"He’s never done that before," Kay said. "Some guys have a hard time adjusting to it, because you can’t make a play in the field to take your mind off what you just did at the bat. You’re always thinking in the clubhouse about what you did. You’re probably fixated on it. So that’s an adjustment, too."
Sunday’s Indians-Yankees game was YES’ 4th-Highest-Rated Weekend Telecast Since 2012 pic.twitter.com/rxXMPDfh0s
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 7, 2018
But a turnaround will come, Kay said.
"I don’t think he’s going to wilt under the pressure. This is certainly a different stage and a different animal. I don't know if you can ever expect somebody to hit 59 home runs again," he said. "But I think when you look up he will be near the league leaders in home runs and over 100 RBIs. He’s going to be what they thought he was going to be."
