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Staten Island baseball coach Bob Laterza took some stinging aim at New York Yankees pitcher Aaron Judge after a minor league baseball game on Sunday.
On Tuesday, the Yankees returned fire.
The drama stems from a classic Little League baseball game between the New York Yankees and the Detroit Tigers on Sunday in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, which coincides with the Little League Baseball World Series. A crowd of about 2,500 fans, mostly Little League players, their coaches and their families, were in attendance to watch the Tigers defeat the Yankees 3-2 at historic Bowman Field.
Laterza was among the fans in attendance, with his South Shore Little League team from Staten Island, New York. His team was sitting near the deck circle along the third-base line during the game.
When Judge entered the circle on the deck, Laterza was not happy with how Judge interacted — or did not interact — with his players. He expressed his displeasure to SIlive.com in Staten Island. In a complaint that said minor league baseball players were paying the judge's $40 million annual salary.
“What about turning around and waving to New York and the kids who think you’re a hero?” Laterza said. “They’re the ones who pay your salary.
“They were disappointed. Maybe he wants to make up for it and come see them.”
Late Tuesday, the Yankees — who already pay Judge's salary — issued a response.
“Whether they win or lose, we intend to invite them to Yankee Stadium,” the team statement read. “However, it would have been better if the Staten Island coach had contacted us to understand the facts before responding so bitterly in such a public manner. Reaching out to us would have been the wisest course of action and would have set a great example for his young players. Aaron Judge always acts with courtesy and respect.”
“The coach can learn a lot from him.”
Ahead of Wednesday's game, Judge said he had “no response” to Laterza's comments.
“I won't give him an answer because it's about the kids.” The judge said“That's all there is to it.”
Unsurprisingly, coach Aaron Boone backed his star player and agreed with Judge's reluctance to respond to the comments, saying, “Aaron Judge is the best ever.”
Judge signed autographs and took selfies with Little League players.
Judge was gracious and respectful during the festivities surrounding Sunday's Little League baseball game. According to the Associated Press, Judge signed autographs, posed for photos and chatted with the Little League players in attendance “from the moment he stepped off the plane until his last at-bat.”
He also swapped gear with minor league baseball players and wore a minor league baseball hat at his postgame press conference.
“They make me feel like the Beatles,” Judge told reporters.
Meanwhile, Laterza and his team had several meetings with Yankees players, including visits from Cy Young Award winner Gerrit Cole, DJ Lemayo, Nestor Cortes, Jason Dominguez and manager Aaron Boone, according to Sealife.com.
The Yankees posted a video of Cole talking to South Shore players and signing autographs for them.
But Judge didn't attend the meet and greet, and apparently didn't interact with the players in the stands while he was warming up in the circle. For that, Laterza was upset.
Laterza has not issued a public response to the Yankees' statement.
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