Yankees fans are losing their minds over ALDS announcer assignments vs. KC Royals
This is how it works. When you advance into the MLB playoffs, national voices take the baton from the locals. Michael Kay abdicates his post -- because, naturally, he's got to go call Tigers-Astros. Of course. And if the Yankees advance past the ALDS, the taste of local flavor will dissolve even further as the crews consolidate.
Instead of Paul O'Neill and David Cone -- who's also still working! -- the Yankees and Royals will receive the stylings of Ron Darling, fresh off a season with the crosstown Mets. Wonky, but fine.
But that's not what really got fans' singular goat this week. Handling the play-by-play, while Brian Anderson heads to Cleveland, will be Bob Costas.
He's a broadcasting icon. He's hilariously sardonic. His commentary is packed with witticisms and gravitas. And ... the booth isn't the best use of his talents, at this stage of his career. At this point, he evokes fewer memories of Tony Tarasco in the 1996 ALDS ("And what's this?!") and more memories of the 2019 postseason to present, an era defined by a random MLB Network showcase no one asked for on an otherwise pleasant Tuesday evening.
Regrettably, Yankee fans reacted to the announcement with their trademark poise -- no, sorry, typo, they acted like they were asked to snip their own larynx.
Yankees fans aren't thrilled to hear Bob Costas in the ALDS vs. KC Royals
You know the anti-Costas feelings are strong when fans care more about that than having a Met in the booth.
We couldn't be bothered. Costas does make it feel like the postseason -- because that's what we grew up with, after all.
The younger generation that does not associate Costas with the NBC Peacock, and calls like "Team of the decade! Most successful franchise...of the century" ascribes to a slightly different code. To put it kindly, they feel about Costas the way Costas feels about Pedro Strop.
Some of us kinda LIKE that stuff, Nate! That's kinda how we got into baseball, NATE!
Hopefully, the Yankees roast the Royals the way they handled the Twins back in 2019, when Costas was also on the mic to describe DJ LeMahieu efficiently clearing the bases.
And, hopefully, this time LeMahieu is inactive.