Overview
- A WEEI radio broadcast on Sunday featured Red Sox play-by-play voice Will Flemming urging Boston pitcher Jovani Morán to hit Yankees catcher Austin Wells and calling Jazz Chisholm Jr. “bush league” after Chisholm stole second and third with New York leading.
- Chisholm’s two steals gave him 40 stolen bases for the season, the most in the American League, and came during a 16-1 Yankees win that decided the season series in New York’s favor.
- Flemming received widespread backlash from media and Yankees figures, said he had been getting nonstop calls and threats, and posted an apology on X on Monday saying his comments “crossed a line” and that his fandom had bled into the broadcast.
- WEEI is owned by Audacy, making Flemming’s remarks those of a station broadcaster rather than an official Red Sox organizational statement, and outlets have noted the incident has not produced a public team or parent-company rebuke in the coverage provided.
- The episode has reignited debate over baseball’s informal “unwritten rules,” sharpened scrutiny of local broadcasters’ responsibility to avoid encouraging on-field violence, and could add extra heat to a rivalry that may meet again in the postseason.