Yankees manager Aaron Boone controversially ejected

Although the New York Yankees suffered an embarrassing 2-0 shutout loss to the lowly Oakland Athletics on Monday, it was far from the most embarrassing moment of the day.

With only two batters in the game, umpire Hunter Wendelstedt went on a power trip and ejected Yankees manager Aaron Boone – even though Boone was an innocent party.

Esteury Ruiz, the first batter of the game, was hit on the foot by a pitch from New York starting pitcher Carlos Rodon; Ruiz was awarded first base, but Boone and the Yankee dugout protested, believing that Oakland’s leadoff man was making an offer on the 0-2 pitch and should have been called. This led to a pointed exchange on the YES Network broadcast between Boone and Wendelstedt.

“You’re not yelling at me!” Wendelstedt shouted at the New York skipper. “I did what I had to do and checked. I’m looking for him to get hit by the field. You still have something to say, you’re out!”

Boone agreed and returned to the Yankee dugout, while Tyler Nevin came to the plate to face Rodon. However, a fan sitting behind the dugout wearing a blue sweatshirt expressed his displeasure with the call; Wendelstedt, believing the bickering came from Boone, promptly threw him out of the game. “You’re done! You’re out!” Wendelstedt shouted at Boone.

Of course, since it was a Boone ejection, it resulted in a lot of profanity from the Yankee skipper. However, the 51-year-old was right in his protests; in a scathing statement from Wendelstedt, he shouted: “I don’t care who said it! You’re gone!” to ignore Boone’s pleas.

The fan who accidentally caused Boone’s ejection took off the blue sweatshirt to avoid further suspicion. Nevertheless, the YES Network cameras consistently cut to the fan (who was wearing a white shirt) throughout the game. Meanwhile, bench coach Brad Ausmus took over for the Yankees for the rest of the afternoon.

After the game, an understandably confused and angry Boone continued to express his displeasure with the exclusion during his press conference. According to beat writer Bryan Hoch, the Yankee skipper plans to contact the MLB.

“It was hard to (wrap my head around),” Boone said. “I really didn’t even go after Hunter, I was more angry about the appeal… It’s embarrassing.”

MLB umpires have come under scrutiny in recent years, mainly for their lack of accountability when they make obvious mistakes; Angel Hernandez, CB Bucknor and Laz Diaz are notorious offenders in this regard. But Wendelstedt’s adamance in ejecting an innocent party – even if that innocent party previously argued before following orders – is a blatant display of abuse of power as a referee, and creates a huge distraction during the game.

All told, Boone has been ejected 35 times since being hired as Yankee manager in 2018, and ranks 48th all-time in sacks as a manager in just his seventh season. However, none of these expulsions were as undeserved – and shameful – as this one.