Aaron Judge Accuses Umpires of Being Overly Sensitive After Yet Another Ejection
Yankees manager Aaron Boone has an impressive streak going. He's led the American League in ejections in each of the last five seasons. With the implementation of ABS challenges, there figures to be less points of conflict between skippers and umpires this season, so it will be quite a task for those prone to getting the ol' heave-ho to match their typical production.
Boone got on the board with his first ejection of the season on Thursday late in New York's 11-4 loss to the Angels when he went out to get some clarification about a balk called on Ryan Yarbrough. That conversation did not prove to be too productive as home plate umpire Will Little sent Boone to the showers for his dissent.
Na vitória de mais cedo dos Angels contra os Yankees, Aaron Boone aproveitou o balk que no ver dele foi erradamente, para desferir um walk intencional sobre Mike Trout, mas deixando bases lotadas.
- After Home Plate (@AfterHomePlate) April 16, 2026
Na sequência, Jo Adell acertou um GRAND SLAM e matou o jogo!!!
UAU!!!… pic.twitter.com/XpswBl0A7F
Speaking with reporters after the game, Boone had some thoughts about how that went down.
"I still haven't gotten good clarity, because of course they got overly sensitive when I was as calm as could be," he said.
"I wasn't out there arguing, I just wanted to hear their explanation. I'm going to wait to get more clarity," Boone continued. "I think it's a fine play."
"Of course, they got overly sensitive when I was as calm as could be"
- Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) April 16, 2026
Aaron Boone explains his side of the story in his ejection: pic.twitter.com/VqZs3ZPPv7
Too add insult to frustration, the play opened up a free base with Mike Trout at the plate so the Yankees walked the red-hot slugger. That move immediately backfired as Jo Adell launched a grand slam to put things entirely out of reach.
Umpires have never been under more scrutiny as technology now allows us to check their work in real time. And the challenge system on balls and strikes has been a good thing as more decisions are properly adjudicated. Yet tons of gray area remains, like when it comes to balks so the arguments will continue.
With the loss the Yankees fell to 10-9, good for second in the American League East. Los Angeles leveled their record at 10-10, a surprisingly competent start for a team with very low expectations. The alleged sensitivity came at the end of a thrilling four-game series that featured runs aplenty and Trout setting a record with five home runs over the span.
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Aaron Judge Accuses Umpires of Being Overly Sensitive After Yet Another Ejection.
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This story was originally published April 17, 2026 at 5:43 AM.