DETROIT — White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson, disciplined by major league baseball for using a racially-charged word during a bench-clearing fracas Wednesday, served a one-game suspension Friday night, hours after the league handed down one-day penalties and fines for both Anderson and manager Rick Renteria.
Royals right-hander Brad Keller was suspended five games and fined for intentionally throwing at Anderson, although Keller is appealing.
The discipline is for conduct after benches cleared during the Sox and Royals game Wednesday at Guaranteed Rate Field.
In a tie game, and leading off the sixth inning, Anderson wasn’t expecting to be hit by Keller in retaliation for flipping his bat after hitting a 418-foot home run against him, but when he took a fastball on the buttocks, he tapped his chest and yelled “we’re good” to Keller. But the reaction was animated, and with catcher Martin Maldanado stepping between Anderson and the pitcher, benches emptied. At some point, Anderson, who is black, called Keller, who is white, a “weak ass f-ing [n-word] within earshot of both teams.
Anderson declined to elaborate on what was said.
“Just really upset with what’s happening,” he said Friday before leaving to watch the game from the team hotel. “Keep moving, put it behind me. I’ll be ready [Saturday]. There are a lot of positive things going on, I got off to a great start so I’m going to continue to work.”
Bench coach Joe McEwing managed the Sox in Renteria’s absence and Leury Garcia started at shortstop. Renteria was also at the ballpark hours before the game but returned to the team hotel.
Anderson declined to appeal his suspension and fine.
“Nah, man. I think that’s too much,” he said. “Just take the one day and use it as an off day. Keep going and be ready for tomorrow.
“I’m going to keep moving forward. That happened a couple days ago. Keep having fun, flush that and keep going. I’m going to the hotel and watch the guys ball out, and be ready for tomorrow.”
Umpire Joe West, the crew chief during that game, declined to give reasons for ejecting Anderson at the time. He gave one postgame statement saying bad language factored into his decision.
Blue Jays right-hander Marcus Stroman, an African-American who got into an on-field spat with Anderson in 2017, came to Anderson’s defense on Twitter Thursday for showing emotion, and again Friday, this time on use of the n-word.
“You can’t suspend someone for languge,” Stroman Tweeted. “That’s ridiculous. Also, what he said is also normal slang trash talk in our culture.”
Anderson, Keller, Renteria and Royals bench coach Dale Sveum were ejected from the game, but only Anderson for what he said.
“We’re going to take it, they made their decision, we’ll abide by it and put it behind us,” Renteria said.
“They’ve looked over everything. I’m not going to make it a public debate about what I agree or don’t agree with. They did what they did. They deliberated on it and drew their conclusion and we’ll just abide by it.”
Renteria once again supported Anderson not only for showing emotion and having fun but also for the person Anderson, a married 25-year-old married father of two and an active person in the community, is.
“Everybody around here,” Anderson said, “knows who I am and knows what kind of person I am and knows what kind of player I am and knows what kind of energy I play with. There’s not a lot more explaining to do.’’
“I ain’t hurt. I’m not bothered by this. I’m in a good spirt. I’m in a good spot. I’m swinging the bat real well. Let’s talk about some of the positive things going on.”
Anderson led the AL with a .422 average, the third-highest mark by a Sox player after 18 team games since at least 1913 according to STATS (Floyd Robinson, .441 in 1962 and Joe Kuhel (.431 in ’39).
“So I’m going to keep playing with my head on fire. I’ll be ready tomorrow and it’s going to be the same energy, the same player. I’m not going to change for nobody.’’
