Tim Anderson admitted on Tuesday that Josh Donaldson had previously brought up Jackie Robinson’s name with him, but the White Sox shortstop insists he never took the joking taunt of the Chicago third baseman. Yankees.
Donaldson, who is appealing the one-game ban he received from MLB for his part in sparking a bench-clearing incident on Saturday, explained that he jokingly referred to Anderson as “Jackie on several occasions in the past after Anderson dubbed himself “today’s Jackie Robinson” in a 2019 Sports Illustrated article.
Anderson said he let Donaldson know in 2019 that he didn’t find Robinson’s references funny.
“I told him, we’ll never have to talk to each other again. “I won’t talk to you, you won’t talk to me, if that’s how you’re going to refer to me,” Anderson told reporters Tuesday in Chicago. “I knew he knew exactly what he was doing.
“I can certainly move on, but I’m not looking for any friendship or relationship of that name.”
Yankees manager Aaron Boone and Aaron Judge have both said publicly that Donaldson should never have included Robinson’s name in his back and forth with Anderson.
Donaldson addressed his teammates after speaking with a few of them and Boone in the manager’s office on Sunday, but Anderson stressed he has not spoken with Donaldson since the incident. The two players had also come close to coming to blows the previous week in Chicago after a hard hit from Donaldson at third base.
“It’s tough,” Judge said after Monday’s loss to the Orioles. “Joke or not, I don’t think it’s the right thing to do there.
“Given the history, especially the series in Chicago and the bit of beef between Anderson and JD. Anderson is one of the best shortstops in the game and is a big part of MLB and how we can grow the game. [Donaldson] getting a one-game suspension… I don’t know. He made a mistake, admitted it and we have to move on.
First baseman Anthony Rizzo also said it was important that Donaldson address the team and that he agreed with the judge’s assessment of the situation.
“I think what Judgie said kind of represents how we all feel,” Rizzo said. “It’s an unfortunate situation. Whenever something comes together as a unit, we want to address it, examine it, and move on. When things happen or are said, you cannot take them back. But you explain what you did and move on.
“In any scenario, when things happen, you have to deal with them, and sometimes they’re not comfortable. They can be very uncomfortable and sensitive. But as human beings, you talk about it and you understand it. Josh is a good guy and has a good heart, but sometimes says things that exist. But he addressed it and I have full confidence that he will learn from it.
Boone, who said Sunday he didn’t believe Donaldson should have “gone there” invoking Robinson, added Tuesday that he didn’t believe the situation would persist in the Yankees clubhouse.
“I feel like we’re equipped to handle this and we’re absolutely going to handle this as a team and I don’t think it’s going to linger,” Boone said. “History can go on forever. And that’s something that’s not necessarily in our control. But I am convinced that the closeness in the room will allow us to deal with this.
Donaldson was also assigned to the COVID-19 injured list on Monday, joining teammates Joey Gallo and Kyle Higashioka, although the latter was reinstated for Tuesday’s game.
Gerrit Cole also felt it was “definitely” important that Donaldson address his teammates.
“We all make mistakes, and I think you just try to do your best afterwards and be sincere and accept whatever punishment I assume comes your way,” Cole said. “As a group, we just try to take care of each other. It happened and we are moving forward.
“I feel like that was the vibe, but that doesn’t mean what happened was appropriate.”