Boone gets 1-game suspension, out for opener vs. Padres

NEW YORK -- When Aaron Boone eventually retreated to his Yankee Stadium office following a fiery third-inning ejection on Thursday evening, it marked the third time in 10 days that the Yankees manager had to track his club’s play via television. Add another game to the list.

Major League Baseball announced on Friday that Boone has received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine for “his recent conduct toward Major League Umpires, including the actions following his ejection from Thursday night’s game against the Baltimore Orioles at Yankee Stadium.” Michael Hill, Major League Baseball’s Senior Vice President for On-Field Operations, made the announcement.

Boone is serving the suspension on Friday as the Yankees host the Padres in the Bronx. He has been thumbed four times this season and 30 times overall, which leads the Majors since the beginning of the 2018 season. Earlier on Friday, Boone said that he does not believe umpires are targeting him.

“I think for the most part, and I credit the umpires as a whole for this, I think they come in for the most part with a blank slate,” Boone said. “I do think there is probably the occasional bias that exists. We’re human beings and I’m sure certain people don’t like hearing from me. I’m sure that does exist.”

Boone’s “recent conduct” regarding umpires has included ejections on May 15 at Toronto, May 21 at Cincinnati and Thursday in New York.

“I don’t like that it’s happened a few times this week,” Boone said. “I’d like to not get ejected. Hopefully I can start a long streak of not getting ejected.”

In the May 15 game, home-plate umpire Clint Vondrak tossed Boone for arguing a strike call on Aaron Judge, a contest that featured vocal complaints from both the Yankees and the Blue Jays about Vondrak’s strike zone. Boone heaved his wad of gum theatrically after the ejection, then said he felt Vondrak had ejected him too quickly.

“I’ve got some experience getting thrown out,” Boone said that night. “Tonight didn’t feel like it got to that level, and it did pretty quick.”

Six days later, Boone was ejected by home-plate umpire Emil Jimenez at Great American Ballpark. Boone’s gripe there regarded the placement of runners after Yankees right fielder Jake Bauers attempted to catch a Spencer Steer fly ball that bounced off Bauers’ glove, but was initially ruled foul. The Reds challenged, and review showed the ball had been fair, allowing runner Jonathan India to score.

“I was just at first trying to get an explanation of why and they just say, ‘You can’t argue that,’” Boone said after the game. “I shouldn’t have gotten kicked out there because, in the end, I think it was probably the right thing.”

In Thursday’s game against the Orioles, Boone began complaining early and often about home-plate umpire Edwin Moscoso’s strike zone, believing it was partially responsible for pitcher Clarke Schmidt’s 29-pitch first inning. Moscoso had heard enough by the middle of the third inning, tossing Boone, who went nose-to-nose with the first-year full-time umpire.

Asked on Friday if he believes umpires have formed an opinion of him as an argumentative manager, Boone replied: “I think I’ve earned that reputation.

“Do I think it’s leading to a quick hook? Not necessarily,” Boone said. “I think [Thursday] night was. That may just be a one-off. Maybe I’m delusional and I did more than I think. I don’t think that’s the case. I don’t think I’m being targeted by umpires, and that they’re not going to tolerate certain things. I think I’m treated fairly.”