Following Game 3 of the ALCS, Houston Astros outfielder Josh Reddick labeled New York Yankees fans as “disrespectful.”
Let’s be clear here: no matter what happens on the field, it’s never OK to throw anything on the field and especially at an individual player.
During the New York Yankees 4-1 loss against the Houston Astros on Tuesday, spectators in the crowd thought it would be a good idea to take their displeasure out on right fielder Josh Reddick and his teammates. After the 32-year-old hit a solo shot in the second inning to put the Astros up 2-0 over the Yankees, he became a target for disgruntled Yankees fans.
Speaking with members of the media after the game, Reddick stated his displeasure and disgust with how the fans at Yankee Stadium handled the situation.
“There’s no place in the game for that type of thing,” Reddick told reporters following the game, via Bob Nightengale of USA Today. “I think I saw seven or eight water bottles out in the outfield, and two souvenir baseballs thrown from center field to left. It’s scary.”
Reddick further explained about what goes through a player’s mind when he’s witnessing harmful objects being thrown onto the field.
“I don’t think a lot of people realize how scary that can really be. You throw a baseball hard enough, hit somebody in the head when we’re not looking, it can do some damage to you as a player,” Reddick said. “You throw a baseball from the third deck, it’s got a little bit of momentum on it. It’s frustrating to see that as a player in the outfield. We’re usually the ones throwing stuff at you. It’s definitely disrespectful, and at the same time, very unsafe.”
While this isn’t the first time in MLB history where players have experienced fans tossing objects onto the field, it’s definitely still disheartening when it happens in your own ballpark. Regardless of intent, there’s no excuse for this sort of action at a professional baseball game.
Like it or not, Yankees fans will never be forgiven for attempting to harm Reddick and other players from the Astros during Tuesday night’s defeat.
