Tim Anderson

MLB suspends Yankees 3B Josh Donaldson over ‘racist’ comments

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josh donaldson, yankees

New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson sparked a confrontation with Chicago shortstop Tim Anderson over the weekend. Donaldson reportedly made racist comments toward Anderson, who claimed he was called “Jackie,” a reference to Jackie Robinson.

Anderson made a comment several years ago that he was the next “Jackie Robinson,” which prompted Donaldson to poke fun as a way of intimidation. Clearly, the Chicago star shortstop took serious offense and publicly stated his displeasure over the incident.

“Basically, it was trying to call me Jackie Robinson. Like, ‘What’s up, Jackie?’” Anderson said after Saturday’s game.

Donald tried to respond with a calming perspective, but the damage was already done.

“My meaning of that is not any term trying to be racist by any fact of the matter,” Donaldson responded with.

As a result of the situation, the MLB decided to suspend Donaldson on Monday because of his poor judgment.

According to the Associated Press, the MLB cracked down on Yankees 3B Josh Donaldson:

Major League Baseball suspended Josh Donaldson for one game Monday after the New York Yankees slugger made multiple references to Jackie Robinson while talking to White Sox star Tim Anderson during the weekend.

Major League Baseball spoke to Anderson about the specific incident and why Donaldson was in the wrong.

“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. 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,” Michael Hill, the senior vice president of on-field operations for MLB, said in a statement.

The Yankees will not have to proceed without Donaldson for one game, an interesting length that the MLB imposed. Seemingly, they had to dish out some sort of consequence for Donaldson’s actions, but one game seems to be insignificant.

Yankees’ Josh Donaldson accused of racial comment against Chicago shortstop Tim Anderson

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josh donaldson, yankees

The New York Yankees might have emerged victorious against the Chicago White Sox on Saturday afternoon, but a stain was left after a benches clearing situation mid-game.

Third baseman Josh Donaldson and the Chicago shortstop Tim Anderson have been going back-and-forth for the past few games, but things came to a head when Chicago catcher Yasmani Grandal began a heated conversation with the Yankees infielder at home plate.

“What sparked it is the comment he made,” Grandal said, via the NY Post. “This game went through a period of time where a lot of those comments were made and I think we’re way past that. It’s just unacceptable. I just thought it was a low blow, and I want to make sure I got my team’s back. There’s no way you’re allowed to say something like that.”

Grandal and Anderson claimed that Josh Donaldson made a racial comment, calling the Chicago shortstop “Jackie.”

“He just made a disrespectful comment. He was trying to call me Jackie Robinson, ‘What’s up Jackie?’ ” Anderson, said. “I don’t play like that. … That happened the first time he got on, and I let it go that time, and it happened again. It’s just uncalled for.

Anderson has called himself “Jackie Robinson” in the past, so it seems as if Donaldson was poking fun. However, this is undoubtedly a touchy subject that can be perceived in different ways. Donaldson doesn’t believe he did anything wrong, claiming he was simply joking about Anderson’s own assessment.

“I called him Jackie. He came out with an interview that says he’s the new Jackie Robinson … We’ve actually joked about that,” Donaldson said. “I’ve said it to him in years past, not in any manner [other] than just joking around.”

The Yankees are preparing to take on Chicago in a doubleheader on Sunday, so this will be a scenario to keep an eye on, especially if Donaldson and Anderson get into a confrontation.

New York Yankees: DJ LeMahieu battling familiar foe for batting title

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New York Yankees, DJ LeMahieu

In 2019, New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu fell just short of Tim Anderson for the AL batting title. Now in 2020, LeMahieu is at it with Anderson once again for the title.

LeMahieu had an opportunity to win it in 2019 up until the very end. However, two 0-for-3 games to end the season ruined his hopes, placing him second in the American League and third in the MLB.

Entering Thursday, both Anderson and LeMahieu are sitting atop the MLB with a .373 average, .021 points above the next closest. That would be Freddie Freeman behind them, the frontrunner for NL MVP.

In his short two years as a Yankee, LeMahieu is certainly proving himself to be a top player in the American League. He finished fourth in the 2019 MVP voting, finishing with a .327 average, 26 home runs, and 102 runs batted in. In 2020, LeMahieu has nine home runs and 22 runs batted in, and that’s with spending two weeks on the IL in August.

However, it’s been just as of late since the power came. Six of his nine home runs are in September to a tune of a .352 average. He also has a .410 average at home, and a .396 average in games that the Yankees win.

All DJ LeMahieu does is hit. For the second straight season, he’s battling Tim Anderson of the White Sox for an American League title. LeMahieu’s play of late has helped lift the Yankees out of their cold spell, and the team has now won seven games in a row.

The offseason is looming, and LeMahieu’s contract is expiring. The Yankees need to do all that they can to retain him this winter and sign him to more of a long-term deal.