New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone was fined and given a one-game suspension from Major League Baseball on Friday following a recent series of lockouts.
Boone was ejected for the fourth time this season and second in four days on Thursday after their loss to the Baltimore Orioles. He was fined an undisclosed amount and will serve his suspension against the San Diego Padres on Friday night.
“It’s happened a few times this week and I don’t want to be ejected, and hopefully I can go on a long streak of not being ejected,” Boone said Friday before learning he was suspended, via ESPN. “I’m not necessarily afraid of it, but no, I don’t mean to be sent off, nor do I want to, and hopefully I won’t be for a while.”
Boone was ejected in the third inning of the Yankees’ 3–1 loss to the Orioles while arguing with home plate umpire Edwin Moscoso over the strike zone. Boone clearly thought that Moscoso had missed at least four calls and may have even spat on him during their heated argument.
At one point, crew chief and first base umpire Chris Guccione had to stand between Boone and Moscoso after Moscoso attempted to walk away.
“I shouldn’t have been kicked out of that game.” Boone said Thursday night via The Associated Press. “I was very calm, didn’t do much at all. And then Gucc stopped me and just told me — so I didn’t have to be restrained. The dismissive attitude in walking away I objected to.”
The lockout came after Boone was ejected in the first inning of their 4-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. Boone feuded with the umpires after a review overturned what was initially ruled a foul ball and turned it into a double, giving the Reds a run.
While his string of lockouts isn’t great, Boone doesn’t think it will negatively impact his team in the long run.
“I think I’ve earned that reputation,” Boone said via ESPN. “Do I think it leads to a fast hook? Not necessarily. I think last night was fast, but that could be a one-off. Maybe I’m delusional and that I did more than I think…I think [umpires] come in with a clean slate for the most part. I do think there is probably some bias from time to time. We’re human and I’m sure certain people don’t like to hear from me or anything.”
The Yankees go into Friday’s game against the Padres, the first of three, with a 30-22 record. They have also won seven of their last ten games.
