Yankees' Aaron Boone addresses reputation amid suspension

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone acknowledged Friday he's now known for arguing with umpires to the point he'll get thrown out of games. 

"I think I've earned that reputation," Boone said ahead of Friday's series opener against the San Diego Padres, per Joon Lee of ESPN. "Do I think it's leading to a quick hook? Not necessarily. I think last night was quick, but that could be a one-off. Maybe I'm delusional and that I did more than I think."

As noted by the MLB website, Boone received a one-game suspension and an undisclosed fine on Friday "for his recent conduct toward Major League Umpires." He chose to serve his ban for Friday's contest. 

Specifically, Boone was referencing how he was tossed for arguing about the strike zone in the middle of the third inning of Thursday's 3-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles. The 50-year-old has received four ejections this spring, three of which have occurred since a win over the Toronto Blue Jays on May 15. 

Boone has been ejected from 30 games as Yankees skipper since the start of the 2018 campaign and admitted earlier this week he wanted to "slow" his pace of ejections for this season. On Friday, he said he thinks that "there is probably the occasional bias that exists" as it pertains to umpires looking for a reason to send him to the showers early. 

"It's happened a few times this week and I'd like to not get ejected, and hopefully I can start a long streak of not getting ejected," Boone added during his comments. "I'm not necessarily afraid to, but no, it's not my intent to get ejected and I don't want to, and hopefully I won't for a while."

Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner made it known last week he believes Boone's players "want to play for him and they want to win for him." For what it's worth, the Bronx Bombers began May 15 at 23-19 but have since improved to 30-22 thanks, in part, to a five-game winning streak. 

New York entered Friday's MLB action trailing the first-place Tampa Bay Rays by seven games in the American League East standings.