The Chicago White Sox had a chance to clinch a postseason series at home for the first time since their 1906 World Series title, but they failed to close it out at Rate Field. Now, the White Sox will go on the road for a winner-take-all Game 5 against the Cleveland Guardians. The bullpen looks gassed, and while several culprits contributed to the team’s demise this week on the South Side, White Sox fans have directed much of their ire at left-handed pitcher Anthony Kay.
In Thursday’s Game 4, Kay was given the ball to start the sixth inning after the White Sox retook the lead, and unfortunately, that’s when things started to fall apart. He retired the first batter on a ground ball to first, but then Kay made a major mistake. The lefty hit Guardians left fielder Angel Martinez, who still hasn’t recorded a hit in the playoffs. Martinez was 0-for-12 with seven strikeouts entering Thursday, so giving him a free base was less than ideal.
Martinez stole second base and eventually scored on a Travis Bazzana double to right field. In defense of Kay, the ball hit by Bazzana probably should have been caught by rookie Braden Montgomery, who got some leather on the fly ball before it dropped in for a hit. The onslaught continued as Grant Taylor gave up four runs after coming in to relieve Kay, including the inherited runner at second.
Kay’s brother, Bobby, has been active on social media all season long, and he’s not afraid to engage with fans online, whether it’s negative or positive. Well, he wasn’t going to bite his tongue following Thursday’s letdown, as Bobby called out cruel behavior from White Sox fans who have been, and probably continue to, shit on his brother.
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Here’s what Anthony Kay’s brother said on Twitter.
The way White Sox fans speak to players families (I’m not the only one trust me) just because we support our family and our team is hilarious. You think any of the White Sox players want you as a fan when you talk like this? It’s pathetic -Bobby Kay (@BKayZone)
A screenshot accompanied the post, which said, “Braden didn’t do shit. Blame Venable for pitching that terrorist, Kay. @BKayZone is a pussy bitch.”
Sadly, this has become the norm in our current social media world; however, that doesn’t make it any less despicable. Kay has drawn heavy criticism from White Sox fans this year, and his brother Bobby has taken the brunt of the anger. Personal attacks like the one Bobby shared are probably happening a lot more often than we think.
White Sox fans have been put on blast before Kay’s brother called them out on Thursday. Braden Montgomery’s mom Gretchen, posted the following, calling out her son’s haters.
“Very tempted to unblock all the asshats who were dumping on my son just to see what they have to say now…Nah. F’em.”
That came after Montgomery’s go-ahead, two-run double in the White Sox’s 4-3 Game 2 win on Monday. Since then, Gretchen has set her Twitter profile to private.
It’s been a tough postseason for Montgomery, besides that big double in Cleveland. The switch-hitter went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts in Game 4, stranding the bases loaded to end the fifth inning with a strikeout, then lining out to end the game with runners at the corners. Montgomery is 3-for-23 with 12 strikeouts so far in the playoffs, and is only 1-for-15 against the Guardians.
Tough look for White Sox fans. It is one thing to complain and point out when a player is struggling, but once it becomes personal and you start directing that anger at family, you’ve crossed the line.
