Michael Kay Doesn't Get It

In his second start of the season A.J. Burnett threw six innings of no-hit baseball. Until he gave up a single to left off the bat of Carl Crawford, in a very good at-bat, Burnett's only blemish was a walk to Pat Burrell. Needing a rest, the Yankee bullpen had worked eight full innings the night before when Chien Ming Wang gave up 8 runs in only 1 inning of work. This start was exactly what the Yankees needed as Burnett is shaping up to be the stopper in this young season. However there was something in the game that truly bothered me as a baseball fan. Play by play Announcer Michael Kay, from the third inning on, relentlessly mentioned the no-hitter Burnett was working toward.  

I can not quite remember when it began. Maybe it was in Little League when the team would rally behind the hitter. Maybe it was later on in Babe Ruth when I would tap the corner of the plate with my bat before every pitch. Maybe it was when I saw Bull Durham for the first time. Maybe it was when I would make sure I wore the exact same outfit to every Yankee game for good luck. Whenever it started one thing held true: baseball is superstitious... point blank. Being as unique a game as baseball is, players will do anything that can help them remain in the zone. People who know baseball understand this. Michael Kay is not one of these people. As I was listening to his radio show a caller said he had a problem with how he called the game. Citing the fact that Kay mentioned the no-hitter as his problem with the broadcast. To this criticism Kay went berserk saying that he did not make any difference in the game and that people who believe that "belong in Salem", referring to the Salem witch trials. 

First of all let me state that I truly believe that baseball and superstition go hand in hand. However I also believe that superstition only applies to the players and anything I do watching the game is solely to appease my own superstitions and have no real effect on the game. With that said the announcer has an obligation to respect the fan's wishes. You do not talk about a no-hitter while it is in progress. Period. A true fan will know whats going on and it does not need to be repeated after every batter. Watching the game I grew increasingly more angry with Michael Kay as he would not let up. Anyone who believes that superstitions in baseball are a bunch of malarkey then I offer this piece of advice from Crash Davis "If you believe you're playing well because you're getting laid, or because you're not getting laid, or because you wear women's underwear, then you ARE! And you should know that!"