Update: Tim Anderson sheds more light on what happened between the White Sox and Yankees Saturday. He and Donaldson have some history, as noted below, so obviously there’s some tension there which didn’t help when it came to Donaldson’s comments.
Tim Anderson says Josh Donaldson referred to him as "Jackie [Robinson]" pic.twitter.com/sk8R7HEJ7w
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) May 21, 2022
And Donaldson has his own explanation for what happened.
This is the quote from Tim Anderson that Josh Donaldson referenced today. He said it to Sports Illustrated in 2019. Josh Donaldson said that in the past, and and Tim Anderson had joked about it. pic.twitter.com/kMaSopsNaC
— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) May 21, 2022
Donaldson has expressed an apology for his comments and a willingness to meet with Anderson for an explanation. He’s also talked to his teammates about what happened.
Josh Donaldson said that he apologizes to Tim Anderson and is open to meeting with Anderson, if Anderson desires. Donaldson said that he has also spoken with his teammates about the situation.
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) May 21, 2022
Things have gotten chippy between the Chicago White Sox and New York Yankees over the past week and the benches between the two ballclubs cleared once again this afternoon at Yankee Stadium.
Benches cleared in the Bronx!!! pic.twitter.com/sNNfq8zvQw
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) May 21, 2022
As you can see, Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson was having a war of words with White Sox catcher Yasmani Grandal at the plate, escalating to both dugouts and bullpens spilling out on the field.
Grandal and Donaldson exchanged words at home plate, benches cleared, TA had to be restrained pic.twitter.com/3OgsVivV7U
— White Sox Talk (@NBCSWhiteSox) May 21, 2022
Chicago shortstop Tim Anderson in particular was heated and his beef with Donaldson goes back to their matchup in Chicago last Friday when the third baseman tagged him in the hip a little bit too hard. Both benches cleared in that exchange.
Benches clear after Tim Anderson and Josh Donaldson get into a little tizzy. pic.twitter.com/7xyXLynLYO
— Baseball GIFs (@gifs_baseball) May 14, 2022
That carried over into today’s contest where they exchanged words while walking off the field in the middle of the third inning.
Tim Anderson once again says something to Josh Donaldson and this time Donaldson chirped back pic.twitter.com/vyTrsl1xln
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) May 21, 2022
White Sox infielder Josh Harrison would then be hit by a pitch in the top of the fourth, furthering hostilities for the small fracas in the fifth inning.
We’ll see if we have any more exchanges throughout the weekend. The two teams are scheduled to collide in a doubleheader at Yankee Stadium on Sunday.