MLB has suspended New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson for one game and fined him an undisclosed sum for calling Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson "Jackie" during a game on Saturday which caused a bench clearing fracas between the two teams.
Anderson, who turns 29 next month, described himself as "today's Jackie Robinson" in a 2019 Sports Illustrated profile. Donaldson acknowledged that was the reference and claimed it was in jest but Anderson was unamused calling it "disrespectful". White Sox manager Tony La Russa went further calling the remark "racist."
In view of the situation, here are nine of my own observations of the Josh Donaldson-Tim Anderson row.
1. When one compares oneself to Jackie Robinson whether as a player or as a man one is inviting criticism. Robinson was a Hall of Fame player. Anderson, who won the 2019 AL batting title, could be a Hall of Famer. But we're a long way from that. When it comes to being a man and specifically a black man, I have no doubt Anderson has had to endure his share of racism. But he has never had to drink from a separate water fountain nor stay in a separate hotel from his teammates on account of his race like Robinson did. While Jackie Robinson might be a role model, Tim Anderson isn't Jackie Robinson. He's Tim Anderson.
2. Notwithstanding the previous point, Donaldson would have been better off keeping his mouth shut which is something he's had trouble doing (i.e. Donaldson's now Yankees teammate Gerrit Cole). Donaldson might claim he was joking with Anderson, but it is more likely that he was taunting him. Anderson doesn't want to be Donaldson's friend and I don't blame him.
3. It is very telling that Anderson's manager and teammates are sticking up for Anderson. The same cannot be said for the Yankees with regard to Donaldson. Yankees manager Aaron Boone made his displeasure with Donaldson known.
4. Despite his displeasure, Boone made a point of saying he did not believe Donaldson was being malicious. Frankly, I agree with Boone. I think Donaldson said this to Anderson not because he objects to the color of his skin, but because he knew he could penetrate its thinness. MLB said Donaldson made "inappropriate comments". If MLB suspended every player who made an inappropriate remark to an opposing player then there would be no baseball games being played tonight or any night. As such I do not think a suspension for Donaldson is warranted and Donaldson has appealed. However, White Sox reliever Joe Kelly thinks the one game suspension is insufficient.
5. If Donaldson's remarks were indeed racist then why did Yankees fans chant "Jackie!!!" every time Anderson went up to bat? Keep in mind that Yankee Stadium is located in the Bronx's Concourse neighborhood which is predominantly Latino. How many Latino and African-American Yankees fans were chanting "Jackie!!!" yesterday?
6. With that said, it has been scarcely a month since Yankees fans threw garbage at Cleveland Guardians players and Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton had to intervene to get them to stop. Yankees fans don't exactly have a lot of goodwill going for them at present and this doesn't help matters.
7. Prior to tonight's game against the Baltimore Orioles, the Yankees placed Donaldson on the COVID-19 injured list along with Joey Gallo and Kyle Higashoika. Does Donaldson really have COVID or are the Yankees trying to get him the hell away from everyone?
8. Since winning the AL MVP with the Toronto Blue Jays, Donaldson, 36, has toiled with the Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves and Minnesota Twins before coming to the Yankees in an off-season trade. Given the points made in 3 and 7, I would not be surprised if Donaldson is not wearing a Yankees uniform by season's end.
9. I think this incident will make the Chisox catch fire. After a lackluster April, the defending AL Central champions are near .500. An incident like this is bound to bring the team even closer. Conversely, the Yankees who currently own the best record in MLB, will come down to earth and Donaldson will prove to be a distraction in the clubhouse. It won't be enough to keep the Yankees out of the post-season. But there's a good chance the Yankees could face the White Sox this October.
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