Michael Kay vehemently defends Bob Costas despite heavy criticism

Bob Costas pulled out the knives during the ALDS, and Michael Kay thinks the hostility toward him was overblown.

Costas was in discussion alongside Ron Darling for TBS' coverage of the Yankees-Royals series, and comments about the legendary broadcaster were vicious on social media.

Kay, the longtime Yankees play-by-play broadcaster, spoke to Costas' defense Thursday with co-hosts Peter Rosenberg and Don La Greca on his eponymous show on ESPN New York and YES Network.

“I’ve never seen such vitriolic hatred toward a man,” Kay said of Costas, as reported by Awful Anncreasing.

“I'm not exaggerating, and you both could correct me if I'm wrong. Bob Costas is one of the greatest sportscasters of all time. In order? Now if you listen to Bob Costas calling a baseball game, because he used to be the backup for (Vin) Scully and then he took the main job (at NBC).

“If you listen to him call those games back then, he called them the same way he calls them now. Understated. He kind of teaches you as he goes along. All that. I think the industry has changed. But seeing these young people on social media eviscerate a broadcasting god. … You can say, ‘Hey, I don’t like the cut of his jib, but it stinks.’ You’re crazy!”

La Greca responded that Costas was a broadcasting legend but was known more as a studio host than a play-by-play host.

“Let’s be fair. Listen, I love Bob Costas and I get along with Bob and I love it when he's around. But his legend is not meant for every game,” said La Greca.

“They look at him as a host. And he's provocative… He called plays in the NFL, but NFL fans know him. Olympia. You put a camera in front of him, give him a microphone and he will entertain you with his stories, behind the scenes and history. I don't think he's a legend because of his playing style. I think he's fine. I'm cool with him. But, Michael, you're talking about him being a broadcast legend, not play-by-play. He did it, but that's not why he's a legend.

“And a lot of the fans that are watching this, Michael, don’t know Bob Costas the way we know Bob Costas. Bob Costas has worked at MLB Network for 20 years. Outside the Olympics… and a little football. He is no longer in the (collective consciousness) the way he was for us when we were growing up. So I protect Bob. I view it as an institution. But when you’re in your 20s, you’re just going to judge him as a play-by-play guy, and that’s not what made him a legend.”

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo wasn't impressed with Costas' performance in Game 3 on Wednesday night.

Russo joined Nick Kostos on “You Better You Bet” on Audacy's BetQL Network on Thursday and praised TBS for its coverage of the game.

“I was watching a George Brett documentary last night and there was a baseball game on – the old Rodney Dangerfield line. I mean, what are they doing? And I love George, but my goodness, six questions in the middle of a playoff game? You know, Bob had a rough night,” Russo said.

“He messed up the call to left, the home run he thought Judge had hit, obviously the bottom of the eighth in the single, and he thought it was a single and it was an out. “He loves it to tell you the stories. We also learned a lot last night about baseball stadium construction with foul territory, he touched on that.

“You know, he’s educated, we know enough about the 76-77 Yankees and Royals. Yes, he was beaten up here. He was beaten. I don't read social media that much, but I know what was said. I feel bad for Bob because he's a legend, he's a jack of all trades, it probably bothers him. Darling needs to figure out where he belongs… but Bob I think maybe needs to give the game some breathing room.”