Yankees Blast Will Flemming for Suggesting Retaliation in 7-1 Bronx Victory

New York Yankees players criticized Will Flemming after the broadcaster suggested hitting Austin Wells following Jazz Chisholm Jr.'s eighth-inning stolen bases.

New York Yankees second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. stole two bases during the eighth inning of Sunday's series finale against the Boston Red Sox, a contest the Yankees led 7-1. Following these plays, WEEI play-by-play announcer Will Flemming labeled Chisholm a "bush league player" and suggested to color analyst Will Middlebrooks that Red Sox left-handed pitcher Jovani Moran should retaliate by hitting Yankees catcher Austin Wells with a pitch. The comments, made during the Bronx-based broadcast, sparked immediate backlash from the New York clubhouse prior to their Monday series opener against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim.

Captain Aaron Judge addressed the broadcast remarks, stating that Flemming needs to stay out of on-field matters and stop encouraging pitchers to injure players. Judge emphasized that the game is not about hurting opponents and called for the broadcaster to clean up his conduct. Pitcher Carlos Rodon also weighed in, telling The Athletic that the league is not a place for being nice and that players are competing for their livelihoods. Rodon dismissed the notion of unwritten rules in this context, telling the Red Sox to simply pitch better.

Chisholm Responds to Unprofessional Labels

Chisholm, a two-time All-Star, learned of the "bush league" comments upon waking up Monday morning. He defended the stolen bases by noting that the Red Sox were not holding him on at the time. Manager Aaron Boone confirmed that the decision to steal was his managerial call, not an independent move by the player. Chisholm pointed out that Boston had previously "poured on runs" in similar situations during the last season without the Yankees complaining.

Regarding the announcer, Chisholm stated he did not know who Flemming was until the morning of the controversy and expressed no interest in speaking with him. He characterized the suggestion to throw at a teammate as a clear sign of being unprofessional. The Yankees infielder noted that unwritten rules are not actual regulations and should not be used as an excuse for suggesting physical harm.

Will Flemming Apology and Broadcast Absence

Flemming was absent from the WEEI broadcast of the Mariners-Red Sox game at Fenway Park on Monday night. While MLB.com reported his absence was part of a previously scheduled break for the series, the announcer issued a public apology via social media. In his statement, he claimed he meant no disrespect to the Yankees organization or its players, admitting he should have chosen different words and allowed the emotion of the rivalry to influence his commentary.

In addition to the social media post, Flemming reached out to Aaron Boone directly. The Yankees manager confirmed receiving a phone call from the broadcaster on Monday to apologize for the remarks. Boone reiterated that the stolen bases occurred because the Boston defense was not actively defending the runner, justifying the tactical decision during the late stages of the 7-1 victory.

Tensions Rise in Longtime Rivalry

The incident has added significant friction to the New York-Boston rivalry. Yankees players remained vocal about the safety of their teammates, specifically regarding the suggestion to bean Austin Wells while he was at the plate. The team moved on to California to face the Angels, but the fallout from the Sunday broadcast dominated the pre-game media availability. No disciplinary action from the league or WEEI has been announced beyond the public and private apologies issued by the radio voice.