WFAN afternoon co-host Craig Carton was beaten to a story by Andrew Marchand of The New York Post about the New York Yankees moving their Friday broadcast — originally scheduled for Amazon Prime Video — to YES Network as Aaron Judge continues to chase the American League single season home run record. Carton then said Marchand probably got the notice from YES Network announcer Michael Kay, who Carton sarcastically called Marchand’s “best friend”.
“That’s why there’s always articles about Michael in the paper, because he and Marchand got together to try to unseat us as number one. It’s not gonna happen, but that’s what they’re in cahoots on.”
Carton then pointed out YES Network had tweeted about the high ratings for recent Yankee broadcasts, including Tuesday’s game being the highest-watched game since Derek Jeter’s final game. He then sarcastically noted discussing ratings is something he’d never do.
“Bragging about ratings is so beneath us. Every day for the last year and a half, we’ve been number one,” Carton jokingly said before bragging about the show’s top spot in the ratings. “It’s not our style to brag. We all do a good job, we all work really hard, we’re just happy to come to work, tripling you,” Carton said. “I’m just kidding! We’re just having fun! Can’t we all just get along and not be so sensitive and insecure?
“We’re having a good time — we’re number one — I just don’t understand why people can’t — we’re number one — enjoy our thing while they do their thing — we’re number one — and listen chips fall where they fall, no one is getting fired — we’re not ’cause we’re number one — and reality is that this is supposed to be fun — we’re number one — and I don’t understand why this isn’t fun for everybody. We’re number one. Let’s all put our cards on the table — we’re number one and you’re not — and just let it all go! That’s all!”
In the spring ratings period, Carton & Roberts topped The Michael Kay Show by a 6.3 to 3.2 margin. During the winter ratings period, Carton & Roberts were a 5.7 rating with The Michael Kay Show garnering a 4.5 rating. Kay called Carton “very nasty and rude” saying it “doesn’t sit well” with the ESPN New York host earlier this summer in a story with NJ.com.
