Blue Jays analyst Buck Martinez rips second-place Yankees: ‘Not a good team’

After Michael Kay claimed the Toronto Blue Jays aren’t a first-place team, Buck Martinez has now returned the favor by trashing the Yankees.

During the seventh inning of Toronto’s 4-3 win over the Houston Astros Tuesday night, the Blue Jays broadcast noted the Yankees were down 12-2 against the Detroit Tigers. The score update prompted Martinez to offer a rather blunt assessment of the Yankees and their faults this season.

“The Yankees, they’re not a good team. I don’t care what their record is. They have a lot of wild pitches. They make a lot of mistakes in the field. They don’t run the bases very well.” – Blue Jays commentator Buck Martinez calls down the thunder 🔥 pic.twitter.com/hlnIpP0ygr

— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) September 10, 2025

“You know, the Yankees — they’re not a good team,” Martinez said. “I don’t care what their record is. They have a lot of wild pitches, they make a lot of mistakes in the field, they don’t run the bases very well. If they don’t hit home runs, they don’t have a chance to win.”

Maybe they’re not a great team, but the Yankees were in the World Series last season and they appear destined to at least get back into the playoffs this year. Martinez is right, the Yankees have 47 wild pitches compared to the Blue Jays’ 29 this season, but in terms of errors in 2025, New York has committed just one more than Toronto.

While the critical breakdown may have seemed unwarranted or even hostile considering the Blue Jays weren’t playing the Yankees at the time, this affront felt more like Martinez embracing the opportunity to punch back after Kay called out the Blue Jays earlier this season.

Two months ago, Kay went on a bit of a rant on his ESPN New York radio show, claiming the Blue Jays “are not a first-place team” because of their run differential. Later that night, the Blue Jays beat the Yankees to force a first-place tie, and they have not looked back.

Kay’s words became fuel for the Yankees rivalry with Toronto. It sparked a back-and-forth with Sportsnet broadcaster Jamie Campbell, prompting a brief feud that they quickly sorted out. Eventually, Kay even called on his friend and current Blue Jays bench coach Don Mattingly to help play peacemaker. But two months later, Blue Jays fans haven’t let up, and it appears Buck Martinez hasn’t either.