Frazier: No regrets ducking media after miscues

TORONTO — Two days after he declined to talk to reporters instantly following what he known as the “most tough sport of my skilled profession within the outfield,” New York Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier doubled down Tuesday, saying he had no regrets about avoiding the cameras and ducking questions concerning the sequence of defensive miscues he had that night time.

“No, I do not remorse it. And to be honest, I do not assume I owe anybody a proof as a result of it is not a rule that I’ve to talk,” Frazier stated, meandering his manner by a variety of completely different matters whereas addressing reporters simply earlier than the Yankees’ sequence opener in opposition to the Toronto Blue Jays.

Part 7 of the collectively bargained Main League Baseball Gamers Affiliation’s regular-season media pointers says, “It is rather necessary to our sport that ALL gamers can be found to the media for cheap intervals and it’s the participant’s accountability to cooperate.”

Frazier’s reluctance to be interviewed got here after Sunday night time’s Eight-5 Yankees loss at dwelling to the rival Boston Purple Sox.

Practically an hour after that sport ended, and mere minutes earlier than the Yankees’ scheduled 11:30 p.m. ET bus departure from Yankee Stadium for a flight to Toronto, a staff spokesman introduced to ready reporters that Frazier was not going to talk.

Typically affable and commonly out there on nights when he delivers large base hits or clutch dwelling runs, Frazier felt embarrassed by his efficiency within the subject on Sunday. He lamented listening to for the primary time heckling from followers in Yankee Stadium’s bleacher seats who have been angered by his defensive woes.

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These miscues included being charged with an error when a floor ball bought previous him and rolled to the right-field wall, plating a Purple Sox run. He additionally had bother monitoring a fly ball hit close to him, prompting him to dive — unsuccessfully — for it on the final second. One other fly ball he probably ought to have caught fell alongside the right-field line and resulted in a triple.

“The performs have been what they have been. I sucked,” Frazier stated Tuesday, earlier than crushing a fourth-inning, two-run homer that put the Yankees in entrance of the Blue Jays early. “I misplaced us the sport. Everybody knew what I did unsuitable, and that is what it got here all the way down to.”

As on Sunday, the Yankees additionally ended up dropping Tuesday, Four-Three. Out there after this newest loss, Frazier addressed reporters for 31 seconds. He answered two questions, then ended the session after an extended, awkward pause that got here after the second query.

Among the many solely two queries he ended up fielding, Frazier was requested if he felt vindicated by the homer, given the drama that has swirled round him the previous two days.

He smiled and stated succinctly: “It felt good.”

Yankees supervisor Aaron Boone stated the house run was a great indication of Frazier’s method regardless of all he already has skilled this week.

“It was good to see him with all that is been out the final couple of days to have a spotlight, and to go up there and actually concentrate on having good at-bats, which he did,” Boone stated.

Though he declined to speak to the collective of reporters within the clubhouse Sunday night time, Frazier did communicate completely to ESPN a few hours after the Yankees’ stadium departure.

“I have been working actually arduous each day with [outfield coach] Reggie [Willits] earlier than batting follow begins, and regardless of what has been taking place in the course of the sport, I am nonetheless assured in myself to have the ability to flip this round quickly,” Frazier informed ESPN. “It is robust to price the staff runs and a possible win, particularly when taking part in at dwelling in opposition to Boston. Issues maintain taking place that should not, and I am acknowledging all that with all the early work I am doing earlier than video games.”

Response to that remark was principally combined from Yankees followers on social media. Some have been glad he lastly, albeit a few hours later, spoke about his want to handle his gaffes. Others thought it was too little, too late.

Boone, amongst many different coaches, staff advisers and teammates, has spoken privately with Frazier about each his play and skipping out on the media.

“We talked slightly bit [Tuesday] about sure issues and expectations and issues like that, however I am going to maintain it at that,” Boone stated.

As Frazier acknowledged on Tuesday, “I knew the folks that I ought to have spoken to, I did, and that is the place I went. I did not really feel like I wanted to face in entrance of everybody and clarify myself.”

Nonetheless, his supervisor believes that dealing with reporters, after each good and dangerous occasions, is of paramount significance for his gamers.

“A part of being a giant league participant, and positively a part of taking part in right here,” Boone stated. “We would like our guys to at all times reply if you play a particular function in a ballgame. That is a part of being a professional, and being a giant league ballplayer and being a New York Yankee.

Clint Frazier stated his defensive miscues late within the Yankees’ loss to the Purple Sox on Sunday price his staff the sport. Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports activities

“These are the issues which might be a part of the rising course of that we undergo with quite a lot of our guys.”

Along with talking about turning down Sunday’s mass media interview alternative — and his poor defensive play that prompted it — Frazier additionally apologized for hanging his teammates out to dry that night time. Whereas he remained away from the portion of the clubhouse reporters are permitted to occupy, his teammates have been requested to debate his play.

“There’s going to be days the place issues form of appear to be they are not going your manner. It simply at all times looks like the ball is being hit to you,” middle fielder Aaron Hicks stated. “That is only a time the place you study over time that you have to sluggish the sport down. Know the conditions going into it, what may occur earlier than the play even begins.”

Frazier was remorseful Tuesday about placing his teammates in such an uncomfortable place.

“I do not need them to have to talk for me, however I additionally wish to be on the identical web page as everybody in there,” Frazier stated. “I ought to have been standing in entrance of my locker.”

Unprompted, the 24-year-old outfielder — who has made as many headlines for his each day selection of footwear as he has for his 11 dwelling runs this season — additionally stated he felt the protection round him has been considerably sensationalized.

Particularly, Frazier cited issues he had with tales that have been written in previous seasons about his hair being too lengthy and less than Yankees code. He additionally referenced questions he heard from broadcasters final season who questioned concerning the size of time he spent away from taking part in after struggling a concussion throughout spring coaching.

“Since I bought traded over right here, it has been some tales that got here out that should not have got here out,” Frazier stated. “And it is tough, as a result of the best way that I am perceived by individuals just isn’t how I feel that I actually am. I do not really feel prefer it’s been honest at occasions, and I do not owe an apology for not speaking.

“I do know I do not match the mould of what a few of the previous and present Yankees are like, and which may be why it is slightly bit tougher for me to navigate each day, and I am making an attempt to be myself in right here. And generally it appears like individuals have a difficulty with me simply being myself. It has been tough; it has been arduous. My whole life, I’ve at all times form of been completely different and struggled to slot in as a result of individuals understand me a sure manner. It was, at any time when I used to be youthful, the one factor that I felt like saved me related was baseball.”