Blue Jays rookie's recent comments put keen eye on Yankees fans for unruly behavior

To make any generalized, sweeping statement about New York Yankees fans — or any team’s fans, for that matter — is to miss the mark. As such, it’s hard to support the recent declaration from Manny Gómez of NJ.com that, “Yankees fans have a reputation for being cruel.” In reality, there are thousands of Yankees fans who would take offense to that statement, and they likely have the behavioral track record to back it up. On the other hand, there are bad apples in every orchard.

During the ALDS, MLB insider Héctor Gómez shared a video on social media that appeared to depict certain Yankees fans throwing bottles at the family of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the stands at Yankee Stadium.

“Last night at Yankee Stadium, fans attacked Vladimir Guerrero Jr.'s family members with plastic bottles during Game 4 of the ALDS between the Blue Jays and Yankees,” Gómez wrote. “Among those attacked was former MLB player Gabriel Guerrero, Vladdy Jr.'s cousin.”

Yankees fans' behavior is a reminder that there is no place for violence at pro sports games

Although the full details of the incident — and the individuals involved — have not been spelled out, the entire ordeal should serve as a reminder that attacking, assaulting, or in any way physically harassing opposing fans at a professional sports event is disgusting, classless behavior.

Any fan who engages in such behavior should be ashamed of themselves, and, despite the aggressors at Yankee Stadium not representing the entirety of Yankees fans, it’s nonetheless a bad look for the Yankees.

Blue Jays rookie makes poignant statement on inappropriate fan behavior

Whether it stemmed from the ALDS Game 4 incident or something else, vile fan behavior was still on the mind of Blue Jays rookie pitcher Trey Yesavage as his team entered a new series (the ALCS) against the Seattle Mariners. 

Before Game 1, Yesavage opened up his time with the media by making a statement about fans interacting with players’ family members.

“I want to start off by saying something,” Yesavage said, per The Athletic’s Mitch Bannon. “Living in this world where there’s so many different opinions and feelings, which results in a lot of hate, it’s sad to see that people close to me are being attacked for my performances on the field.”

“I know I have the platform to address it, so I am,” Yesavage continued. “I hope that people can realize that those individuals have nothing to do with what happens on the field or whatnot. If you have a problem, I’m a man; I can take whatever opinions anybody has about me or life. So I just wanted to get that out there.”

There's yet to be any reported fan altercation with Yesavage or his family, so it's not entirely clear why he mentioned this.

Yesavage’s remarks naturally brought people back to the topic of the Game 4 incident at Yankee Stadium, and it’s a topic that should always remain relevant. Beyond the on-field failures and successes of the Yankees, establishing a fun and safe environment at Yankee Stadium is a priority that belongs in an entirely higher realm of importance for the franchise (and for all MLB teams).

On a more nuanced note, the best fans are those who are fiercely loyal to their own team, while being a lover of the sport, in general, which allows for a mature and noble appreciation of opposing teams and players. Instead of tipping their cap to Vladdy and his dominant ALDS, those Yankees fans chose to take a much more cowardly route, and they dragged an entire fanbase under the bus by doing so.