TAMPA — Jazz Chisholm Jr. said he’s “a little bit’ surprised that Major League Baseball decided to suspend him for his mid-game, post-ejection tweet on Thursday.
Chisholm wrote “Not even f–king close” on X from inside the Yankees’ clubhouse moments after home plate umpire John Bacon tossed him for arguing balls and strikes in the midst of the Yankees’ win Thursday over the Rays. While Chisholm later deleted the post at the recommendation of a friend, those four words earned him a one-game ban and a $5,000 fine on Friday.
Chisholm is appealing the suspension; he believes a meeting for that will take place this coming Thursday when the Yankees are off.
“I feel like we should be able to say whatever we want to say,” Chisholm said Saturday. “At the end of the day, it’s a lash out. So it probably won’t happen again.”
According to the official major league players social media policy, the use of electronics is prohibited during games. The policy also prohibits social media conduct that could be considered “displaying or transmitting content that questions the impartiality of or otherwise denigrates a Major League umpire.”
While Chisholm had an animated argument with Bacon after being rung up on a low, outside, 3-2 pitch, the second baseman said MLB told him he was suspended specifically for violating the rule regarding the use of electronic devices. He also mentioned “Rule 6,” the one that forbids conduct that could be considered disparaging of an umpire.
Chisholm feels there’s a gray area because he was no longer in the game. However, the policy doesn’t mention any exceptions for players who are ejected or no longer in the game.
“I’m not in the game,” Chisholm said. “I’m not technically here after that.”
WELLS RETURNS
Austin Wells returned to the Yankees’ lineup on Saturday after missing Friday’s game with food poisoning. The catcher called Aaron Boone while the manager was at breakfast on Saturday morning and said he was ready to play.
WARMING UP
There had been some chatter about Carlos Rodón and Luke Weaver’s velocity being down to start the season. However, the Yankees didn’t seem too concerned with many of their early outings coming in ice cold conditions.
With the Yankees playing in sunny Tampa, both pitchers enjoyed 1.7-mph increases on their four-seam fastballs on Friday night. Rodón and Boone mentioned the warm weather as a factor.
