Benches cleared between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees on Sunday when catcher Yasmani Grandal began yelling at Josh Donaldson as he got here to the plate within the fifth inning. Grandal was standing up for teammate Tim Anderson after Donaldson made a racist comment to him on a number of events earlier within the recreation.
Donaldson known as Anderson “Jackie” as a reference to Jackie Robinson. Listed here are Anderson’s feedback on the incident after the Yankees’ 7-5 win in New York.
Grandal bought in Donaldson’s face when he approached residence plate. The benches cleared and Anderson needed to be restrained by teammates. You’ll be able to watch the sequence right here.
Donaldson stated he known as Anderson “Jackie” as a nod to a 2019 Sports activities Illustrated function the place Anderson stated “I type of really feel like at present’s Jackie Robinson.” Donaldson stated he and Anderson joked in regards to the quote throughout a recreation in 2019, however clearly Anderson didn’t discover this as some type of endearing reference between two buddies.
Josh Donaldson says he known as Tim Anderson “Jackie” throughout at present’s recreation, referencing a quote from Anderson in a 2019 story. Donaldson stated he felt the self-reference had been a joke between the 2 of them up to now.
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) Might 21, 2022
Right here’s the quote from the unique SI story:
That is the quote from Tim Anderson that Josh Donaldson referenced at present. He stated it to Sports activities Illustrated in 2019. Josh Donaldson stated that previously, and and Tim Anderson had joked about it. pic.twitter.com/kMaSopsNaC
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) Might 21, 2022
Donaldson’s aspect of the story — that the nickname was stated in good religion between two gamers who’re pleasant with one another — is extraordinarily laborious to consider given the latest historical past between Donaldson and the White Sox. Simply final week, Donaldson hit Anderson with a tough tag at third base that led to a different benches clearing argument. Final season, Donaldson taunted White Sox ace Lucas Giolito throughout a recreation, which led to an escalating battle of phrases and a parking zone confrontation.
Grandal additionally talked to reporters after the sport, and continued to face up for Anderson:
Yasmani Grandal says Josh Donaldson “lives in his personal world.”
“A remark like that’s simply unacceptable. It is one thing that shouldn’t be allowed.” pic.twitter.com/H12nsqOmaS
— White Sox Discuss (@NBCSWhiteSox) Might 21, 2022
“This recreation went by means of a time frame a variety of these feedback have been made, and I believe we’re well past that,” Yasmani Grandal informed reporters, saying that Donaldson denied the incident when he confronted him within the fifth inning. “I assume he lives in his personal world.”
Donaldson was additionally getting ripped on Twitter for the incident.
The quite simple drawback with Josh Donaldson calling Tim Anderson “Jackie” is that he perverted honor into mockery.
— Bradford William Davis (@BWDBWDBWD) Might 21, 2022
Tim Anderson calling himself “the brand new Jackie Robinson” as a result of he attracts inspiration from Robinson’s legacy doesn’t give Josh Donaldson permission to name him Jackie
Unacceptable
Flippantly calling Anderson “Jackie” minimizes baseball’s historical past of racism and the ache it’s brought about https://t.co/2sbjg30tWu
— Joon Lee (@joonlee) Might 21, 2022
Right here is Donaldson’s rationalization after the sport:
Donaldson’s remark is flat out ignorant. He was attempting to get underneath Anderson’s pores and skin by calling arguably the most important Black star in MLB at present by the identify of the person who broke baseball’s colour barrier. It turns Robinson right into a punchline and flippantly overlooks the struggles Black gamers have needed to endure within the recreation.
Anderson’s opinion is the one one who issues right here, and to him Donaldson’s rationalization is bogus. Donaldson must do some critical self-reflection if he actually thought that form of remark can be obtained properly.
