Yankees fans had a lot to say on Sunday after manager Aaron Boone received his fifth ejection of the season for arguing a questionable call early in the club’s eventual 5–1 road loss to the Cardinals.
Boone, who had been suspended four times entering Sunday, got into it with plate umpire Dan Merzel over a 3–1 strike call against DJ LeMahieu in the third inning of a scoreless contest. LeMahieu’s plate appearance ended with a popout to second base, though Boone’s issue lingered into the next at-bat as it appeared the call should’ve been a ball given that the pitch appeared to be well above the strike zone.
Boone was tossed for complaining moments after exiting the dugout, but the temperamental manager made sure to get his money’s worth by giving the umpiring crew an earful before heading to the locker room.
Boone got ejected for the fifth time this season and then he gave the ump an earful pic.twitter.com/IKosCVxpmI
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) July 2, 2023
Some more footage of the Aaron Boone ejection pic.twitter.com/HfrUARf3dM
— Dillard Barnhart (@BarnHasSpoken2) July 2, 2023
Sunday’s scene added to a growing list of lowlights for Boone, who logged an MLB-high nine ejections last season and now leads all managers in suspensions. The 50-year-old is also just a month removed from serving a one-game suspension following his fourth ejection.
But, while some took him to task for his latest antics, others sided with Boone for protesting Merzel’s call. Needless to say, Yankees faithful seems more than willing to cut Boone some slack, even as his ejections continue to rack up.
Aaron Boone was ejected for arguing the outrageously bad 3-1 strike call against DJ LeMahieu.
— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) July 2, 2023
It’s Boone’s fifth ejection this season.
Billy Martin — I mean, Aaron Boone — got his money worth on this one — legitimate beef. https://t.co/b2ik6jqbFw
— 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐲 𝐑𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 (@TonyRushingNY) July 2, 2023
And I thought the umpires we've had in Tampa have been bad. https://t.co/Hj10NDsNZC pic.twitter.com/rqH9HqMCgU
— John Brophy (@jbrophybaseball) July 2, 2023
Most shocking part, aside from the terrible call, is that it was only the 5th time Boone has been tossed this season…. Seems like a weekly thing at this point. https://t.co/kglVVYdMXm
— IrishFlwr13 (@Breezy021011) July 2, 2023
tell them boone terrible call https://t.co/UUsYdfFLQM
— Owen Woodard (@OwenWoodard13) July 2, 2023
I mean #5 is almost in a different area code pic.twitter.com/Y8Tm5Jw4Ku
— Jared Lewis (@TheJearBear28) July 2, 2023
I actually Love that ejection by Boone. Stood up for DJ who is struggling and got screwed by an absolutely awful call
— Erik (@ErikR122) July 2, 2023
