"The seas have parted" - Veteran broadcaster says Yankees will have 'no excuse' for failing to appear in World Series this year
Veteran MLB broadcaster Michael Kay believes the New York Yankees will have no excuse if they fail to reach the Fall Classic this year. Kay feels they are the strongest team remaining in the battle for the American League pennant after the elimination of the Houston Astros and the Baltimore Orioles. Thus, the path is laid out for the Yankees to reach their first World Series since 2009.
Michael Kay, who began covering the Yankees on radio with the legendary announcer John Sterling for WABC in 1992, is the host of the sports radio program The Michael Kay Show on WEPN and ESPN New York. Kay offered his views regarding the upcoming Yankees postseason during the radio show, on Thursday.
"The seas have parted for the Yankees. There is no excuse whatsoever not to get to the World Series," Kay said.
"I don't want to hear about crapshoots," he added. "And I'm not saying the teams that are left over are not good, but the two teams that were the biggest threats to you are both out. The Astros have eliminated you four times in the last 10 years; they're out."
The Yankees are going through a 15-year drought for the World Series title. They have failed to reach the playoffs just four times during this period but have fallen short of the Fall Classic on each occasion.
"The excuses are over": Micheal Kay on the Yankees' need to win now
The New York Yankees finished with the best record in the American League and earned the No. 1 seeding to secure home advantage for the first round of the playoffs.
They face the Kansas City Royals in the five-game Division Series, which gets underway on Saturday evening.
"Now you're going to have to beat the Royals first, you've beat them five out of seven (times). The Royals are a fun team, and they have good starting pitching, but you're better," Kay said.
"Then the winner of the Guardians and Tigers ... the Yankees should beat both of these teams," he added. "The excuses are over. The road is paved for you to go to the World Series for the first time in 15 years. Now, they have to do it, it's right there in front of them."
This is arguably the best chance Yankees have had in recent years. They also may not get a better one in the near future, as a good chunk of their core players won't remain with them next year.
Juan Soto, Gleyber Torres, Alex Verdugo and Clay Holmes will all be free agents at the end of the season. Anthony Rizzo has a team option that may get declined, while ace Gerrit Cole has an opt-out clause unless they add a further year to his contract.