The New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays have seen a lot of each other early in the 2024 campaign. Two of the Boston Red Sox’s American League East rivals have played a series at each of their home ballparks, and each squad won their home series.
During the more recent matchup between the two clubs at Rogers Centre in Toronto, YES Network broadcaster Michael Kay made an observation aloud about Toronto’s plate presence over the course of the matchups.
Kay and Yankees color commentator John Flaherty noticed that the Blue Jays were fouling pitches off at a much higher clip during the games at Rogers Centre than they were at Yankee Stadium. Flaherty seemed to interpret the change as a trend Toronto’s order had taken, but Kay’s interpretation of the events seemed to make a statement about how the Jays were getting to so many tough pitches.
“We just saw the Blue Jays in the Bronx, and what we watched was a completely different team than the one we’ve seen in Toronto,” Kay said. “The one in New York did not foul off the amount of pitches that this team does. It’s like it’s a different team in this ballpark. Now, home field advantage, there is something to that, but why would it manifest itself in the ability to foul off tough pitches?”
Yankees play-by-play announcer Michael Kay insinuates Blue Jays might be cheating at home
It certainly sounds like Kay implied the Jays may be banging on some trash cans in the dugout, or something in that vein. Rogers Centre underwent renovations before the new season and the Blue Jays were concerned that the ballpark wouldn’t be ready before their homestand. By the sounds of it, Kay might think the Jays did more than add fancy new seats in their park.
Beef has been brewing between the Yanks and Jays going back a few seasons. Snide comments from Alek Manoah, a sneaky look to the dugout by Aaron Judge, name calling, and now loose cheating allegations have stoked a fire between the two squads.
And it affords Red Sox fans a chance to sit back and laugh at some AL East drama that doesn’t involve them. Whew. Finally.