Aaron Boone has criticized the “embarrassing” decision to eject him just one batter into Monday’s Yankees game in a case of mistaken identity, and umpire Hunter Wendelstedt doubled down on his decision after the game.
After Boone expressed his displeasure over a strike call a few seconds earlier, and was told he would “leave” if he said anything else, he remained silent in the dugout, but was ejected anyway when Wendelstedt thought the abuse of the close fans came from the Yankees. manager.
And Boone was furious after the game, which the Yankees lost 2-0 to the A’s, and told reporters he planned to contact MLB about the incident.
“I didn’t even go after Hunter,” he began, then called the expulsion “just not right.”
“I was more upset by the appeal. I said, ‘Hunter, you can call him too.’ He responded quite strongly to me. To which I didn’t respond. I just said, ‘OK.’ shameful”.
Aaron Boone was furious after being ejected from the Yankees game Monday afternoon.
“I don’t care who said it. You’re gone!”
That’s not usually how it works, but at least we had an awesome hot mic situation thanks to this Aaron Boone ejection. pic.twitter.com/EX2xUsjtKA
— Talking Yankees (@TalkinYanks) April 22, 2024
Boone argued with Hunter Wendelstedt after being ejected from Yankees game
In response to a request for comment from Mail Sport, an MLB spokesperson said it is standard to review all ejections.
Television replays clearly showed that, immediately before his ejection, Boone said nothing, and the comment came from a fan sitting directly above the Yankees dugout, wearing a blue sweater.
But Wendelstedt incredibly doubled down on his mistake after the game, as he insisted that the abuse was actually coming from the Yankees’ dugout.
‘Aaron Boone is the manager of the New York Yankees and he is responsible for everything that happens in that dugout. …I don’t want to expel a player,” he said, via MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch.
‘We need to keep them in the game. That’s what fans pay to see. Aaron Boone manages the Yankees. They expelled him.
Referee Hunter Wendelstedt thought the abuse from the fan in blue (center) was Boone’s.
Speaking after the match, an angry Boone said the incident was “disgraceful”.
Microphones captured the angry exchange during the game, as Boone could be heard yelling, ‘I didn’t say a word, it was the crowd!’ Bulls***! I didn’t say anything, hunter! I didn’t say a damn word!’
As Boone continued desperately to plead his innocence, Wendelstedt said, “I don’t care who said it, you’re gone.”
Boone, who has a history of angry confrontations with MLB umpires, acknowledged he has a bad temper but remained adamant that the ejection was unfair.
‘Obviously, it wasn’t good. “I’m a little more vocal and fiery than some,” he said. But I was standing there and I heard “you’re gone, Aaron” and I couldn’t believe it.
