Aaron Boone suspended shortly before Yankees host Padres after FOURTH ejection of 2023

Yankees manager Aaron Boone was handed a one-game suspension following his latest ejection and admitted his arguments may have created an image in the minds of umpires.

‘Well, I think I’ve earned that reputation,’ he said Friday before Major League Baseball fined and suspended him.

Michael Hill – senior vice president for on-field operations – announced the league’s decision. MLB stated that the discipline was Boone’s ‘recent conduct toward major league umpires, including the actions following his ejection from Thursday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles.’

The fifth-year Yankees manager was forced to sit out on Friday night in New York’s series opening loss against the San Diego Padres (5-1). Carlos Mendoza replaced him in the dugout.

He was ejected from the majors for a fourth time this season – a league-high. Boone, who also leads MLB managers in terms of ejections, was tossed after getting angry with umpire Edwin Moscoso’s strike zone during a 3-1 loss to the Orioles on May 25.

Boone has been ejected four times already so far in the 2023 campaign – a league high 

Boone held up four fingers while arguing in the middle of the third inning, signaling Boone thought the plate umpire missed four pitches.

Boone was angry also angry at Moscoco for walking away during the argument and had to be restrained by first base umpire Chris Guccione, the crew chief who stood between the two when the Yankees manager tried to re-engage with Moscoso. 

Boone may have also gotten spit on an umpire while arguing.

‘Do I think it’s leading to a quick hook? Not necessarily,’ Boone said. ‘Maybe I’m delusional and that I did more than I think. I don’t think that’s the case. But, no, I don’t think I’m being targeted by umpires going in, like they’re not going to tolerate certain things. I think I’m treated fairly. ‘

Still, the 50-year-old admitted the frequent arguments may have had an impact.

‘I do think there is probably the occasional bias that exists,’ Boone said. ‘We’re human beings. I’m sure certain people don’t like hearing from me.’

Carlos Mendoza filled in as manager for Friday’s game between the Yankees and the Padres

Boone was ejected against Cleveland on April 12, against Toronto on May 15 and against Cincinnati on Sunday

His 30 ejections are sixth among current managers, even though his 720 games entering Friday were far fewer than those who have more ejections: Bruce Bochy (78 in 4,081 games), Bob Melvin (55 in 2,830), Terry Francona (47 in 3,509), Bud Black (35 in 2,283) and Buck Showalter (34 in 3,282).

Boone is averaging an ejection every 25 games, a far faster pace than Bochy and Melvin (52), Black (65), Francona (75) and Showalter (97).

Cincinnati’s David Bell had 23 ejections in 596 games, an average of one per 26 games.

‘I don´t like that it´s happened a few times this week, and I´d like to not get ejected and hopefully I can start a long streak of not getting ejected,’ Boone said. ‘I´m not necessarily afraid to, but no, it´s not my intent to get ejected and I don´t want to. And hopefully I won´t for a while.’