Josh Donaldson Suspended for Comment Made Toward Tim Anderson (UPDATE)
UPDATE: Josh Donaldson has been suspended one game by Major League Baseball for the on-field incident this weekend, which is discussed below in the original post.
Here’s the statement from MLB:
“MLB has completed the process of speaking to the individuals involved in this incident. There is no dispute over what was said on the field,” said Michael Hill, Major League Baseball’s senior vice president for on-field operations. “Regardless of Mr. Donaldson’s intent, the comment he directed toward Mr. Anderson was disrespectful and in poor judgment, particularly when viewed in the context of their prior interactions. In addition, Mr. Donaldson’s remark was a contributing factor in a bench-clearing incident between the teams, and warrants discipline.”
Original post follows.
* * *
There is long-standing beef between the White Sox and Josh Donaldson, previously with the Minnesota Twins and now with the New York Yankees, but today may have taken things to another level.
Early in today’s game, something was exchanged between Donaldson and White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson on the field:
Tim Anderson once again says something to Josh Donaldson and this time Donaldson chirped back pic.twitter.com/vyTrsl1xln
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) May 21, 2022
Later, perhaps after being told what Donaldson said, White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal let Donaldson have it, and the benches cleared:
Benches cleared in the Bronx!!! pic.twitter.com/sNNfq8zvQw
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) May 21, 2022
But what was originally said that set all this up? Well, according to Anderson and his manager, Tony La Russa, it was a racist comment from Donaldson. Specifically, Donaldson referred to Anderson as Jackie Robinson:
Tim Anderson says Josh Donaldson referred to him as "Jackie [Robinson]" pic.twitter.com/sk8R7HEJ7w
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) May 21, 2022
Tony La Russa alleges Josh Donaldson made a racist comment towards Tim Anderson. Declined to comment further. pic.twitter.com/PAWlac6Y0D
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) May 21, 2022
If that’s what was said, it is way over the line. It’s disrespectful toward Anderson, it’s disgusting to use Robinson’s name as if it’s an insult, and it’s overall just a terrible way to be. Donaldson’s manager, Aaron Boone, said he was going to get to the bottom of what was said, and you better believe he, the Yankees, and MLB will take action if it’s true.
UPDATE: Donaldson confirms that he said it, but is claiming that it used to be a joke between them:
Donaldson said he did, indeed, call Anderson “Jackie.” Said it used to be a joke between them.
— Laura Albanese (@AlbaneseLaura) May 21, 2022
Is that just something that YOU thought was a joke and that Anderson was OK with? Or was he never really OK with it and you just kept thinking it was OK? It sounds pretty awful in any case.
UPDATE 2: More context, though it doesn’t improve things:
Josh Donaldson said that he called Tim Anderson “Jackie,” referring to a 2019 interview in which Anderson told Sports Illustrated that he feels like “today’s Jackie Robinson.”
Donaldson said that he thought it was an inside joke with Anderson, who took offense.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) May 21, 2022
Josh Donaldson admits he called Tim Anderson "Jackie" on the field today: pic.twitter.com/eko1UaR3Nt
— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) May 21, 2022
“Obviously, he deemed it disrespectful,” Donaldson said of the Jackie comment. “And look, if he did, I apologize.”
— Laura Albanese (@AlbaneseLaura) May 21, 2022
That interview/quote was about Anderson wanting to change the way unwritten rules police player behavior in baseball, which has long carried with it some racial undercurrent. It may not have been explicitly what Anderson said, but it’s an attached portion of any discussion about “appropriate” behavior in baseball involving minority players, and certainly when Jackie Robinson is explicitly brought up. Donaldson trying to make a joke out of it still strikes me as unacceptable. Also, considering the existing beef between the players, it’s pretty hard for me to believe Donaldson just meant it as a friendly jab among pals.
The very simple problem with Josh Donaldson calling Tim Anderson “Jackie” is that he perverted honor into mockery.
— Bradford William Davis (@BWDBWDBWD) May 21, 2022
Yasmani Grandal says Josh Donaldson "lives in his own world."
"A comment like that is just unacceptable. It's something that should not be allowed." pic.twitter.com/H12nsqOmaS
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) May 21, 2022
