Aaron Judge criticized Yankees teammate Josh Donaldson for calling “Jackie” at the Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, the reference to Jackie Robinson that cost Donaldson a one-game suspension and a a lot.
“It’s tough,” Judge said after Monday’s 6-4 loss to Baltimore in Saturday’s Bronx incident that led to the suspension.
“Joke or not, I don’t think it’s right to do that,” Judge said of Donaldson, who repeatedly called Anderson, who is black, “Jackie,” in what Donaldson said was an attempt to spread the word. tensions between the two afterwards. they almost came to blows when the teams met in Chicago last weekend.
“Considering the story, especially the series in Chicago and the little meat between Anderson and [Donaldson]”Anderson is one of the best short stops in the game and is a big part of MLB and how we can grow the game. [Donaldson] receiving a suspension for a match … I don’t know. He made a mistake, he realized it and we have to move on. ”
Aaron Judge, Josh Donaldson, Corey Sipkin, Getty
The judge said Donaldson spoke to the team to try to explain his behavior, referring to the 2019 Sports Illustrated article in which Anderson said, “I feel like today’s Jackie Robinson.”
But while Judge seemed willing to let go of the controversy in the past, he will not be forgotten.
“He’s a professional,” Judge said of Donaldson. “He spoke to all of us and told us what he meant. But still, I don’t think it was the right move. ”
The judge added: “It’s time to move on.”
“We’re big men,” he said. “He realized what he was doing. That’s all you can ask for, especially when we play every day. I can’t sit here and linger too long.… You learn when you make a mistake.”
Aaron Boone said he disagreed with MLB’s decision to ban Donaldson, although he respected the league’s process.
“They did their due diligence and made a difficult call,” the manager said. “I do not agree. I don’t think that justifies a suspension. ”