Aaron Boone spoke with Josh Donaldson and different Yankees about Saturday’s incident involving Tim Anderson, and he agrees that Donaldson mustn't have invoked Jackie Robinson’s identify in his trade with the White Sox shortstop.
Chicago supervisor Tony La Russa charged that Donaldson made a “racist” remark when he mentioned on the sector to Anderson, who's Black, “what’s up Jackie,” resulting in the benches-clearing incident later within the Yankees’ 7-5 victory. Donaldson contended after the sport that he was joking about Anderson referring to himself in a 2019 Sports activities Illustrated story as “as we speak’s Jackie Robinson.”
“I perceive that Josh has been very forthcoming with the historical past of it, the context of it. I don’t imagine there was any malicious intent with that regard. That is simply someplace in my view he shouldn't be going,” Boone mentioned earlier than Sunday’s doubleheader on the Stadium.
Boone acknowledged that he additionally was instantly bothered to be taught that Robinson’s identify was used earlier than listening to Donaldson’s private and non-private explanations.
“After I first heard the identify Jackie talked about, I used to be actually stunned and admittedly upset about it myself,” Boone mentioned. “I feel if you return to the context, the unique story of the place it was born out of, out of the article, after which now a number of years of claiming that, I’m much less stunned by it at that time.
“However once more, I sit right here, as a white man, that did change the context for me, however I additionally perceive how it may be offensive or upsetting.”
Boone added that his “sense” is that this isn’t a problem within the Yankees’ clubhouse.
“Once more, I feel Josh has been very forthcoming and I feel was forthcoming yesterday in regards to the historical past of it. Not that that makes it a terrific factor, but it surely undoubtedly modifications the context in my view about it. However I actually perceive that is delicate and also you gotta learn the room in that sense.”
Boone added that he met with Donaldson in his workplace with a number of teammates current earlier than the primary recreation, and that the veteran third baseman additionally addressed his teammates individually.
Boone mentioned he additionally spoke with MLB senior VP of on-field operations Michael Hill in regards to the incident as a part of the league’s investigation into the matter. Neither Donaldson nor Anderson spoke to the media earlier than Sunday’s doubleheader, and it was unclear in the event that they’ve spoken since Saturday evening.
“I’ve mentioned it to him in years previous, not in any method than simply joking round,” Donaldson mentioned after Saturday’s recreation. “My which means of that's not any time period making an attempt to be racist by any reality of the matter. That’s not what I used to be making an attempt to do by any method and that’s what occurred.”
Donaldson was within the Yankees’ beginning lineup for the opener, however La Russa mentioned Anderson would begin the nightcap after being rested for Recreation 1.
Joey Gallo and Kyle Higashioka have been positioned on the COVID-19 injured checklist earlier than the primary recreation. Outfielder Estevan Florial and catcher Rob Brantley have been referred to as up from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.
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