It's been a long time since the Boston Red Sox have looked as lifeless as they did against the New York Yankees, and the team, fans, and even broadcasters are feeling it. A brutal call on Ceddanne Rafaela's impeccable defense coupled with slumping offense made a 16-1 loss feel even worse than it always would.
However, that doesn't excuse comments made by WEEI play-by-play broadcaster, Will Flemming. Jazz Chisholm Jr. stole second and third base in the bottom of the eighth inning of a 7-1 game, to which Flemming objected. He proceded to call the infielder a "bush league player" who "plays the game the wrong way" (subscription required). He also suggested that the Sox pitcher at the time, Jovani Morán, hit Austin Wells at the plate and fight Chisholm after his antics.
Chisholm was also the beneficiary of the Rafaela no catch call in the outfield, which may have added to the upset over his play. But any way you look at it, Flemming's comments aren't good.
A team letting its foot off the gas when beating another team by a significant margin is one of those un-written rules or courtesies that aggravate some people and don't bother others at all. It's a rivalry game and the biggest series of the year — no one is owed courtesy and expecting un-written rules to be followed at all times by all teams is asking to be offended.
Red Sox radio announcer Will Flemming calls Jazz Chisholm Jr. 'bush league' for stealing two bags while Yankees were up by six
Chisholm's style of play and style, in general, have been the subject of racist comments before and Black players are more often subjected to a different level of scrutiny than others. Although Flemming may not have meant for his comment to come off that way, ignorance of tropes doesn't excuse the words he used, kind of like Cade Cavalli's infraction against Willson Contreras, which led to a five-game suspension for both players.
The Red Sox and Yankees were playing their most important series of the year for higher Wild Card standing and the season tie breaker. If Boston had a chance to gloat a little bit, it would've taken it. The number of runs scored en route to a win doesn't matter so there was no real need for Chisholm to go so hard, but it also doesn't hurt the Red Sox any more than if they had lost by one.
Red Sox announcer radio Will Flemming apologizes for Jazz Chisholm Jr. comments that went too far
At the same time, the Red Sox were obviously not trying to hold Chisholm at that point. The bases were free, so he took them to add to his tally — he tied his career high of 40 stolen bags on the two the Red Sox let him have. He's also making a desperate leap to hit just one part of the 50-50 season he predicted he'd have at the beginning of the year.
Flemming has since apologized for his comments and admitted that he crossed a line. He's a hometown broadcaster and his personal fandom was evident in his game calling, but suggesting that another player be hit for one player's perceived infraction is a bit much in today's game.
As an experienced broadcaster, Flemming should've chosen his words better in the moment, and passed on calling for Wells to be plunked altogether. Rivalry games can get to all of us differently than others but his word choice is worthy of scrutiny.
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