Video: Yankees' Aaron Boone Ejected by Hunter Wendelstedt; Insists Fan Heckled Umpire

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone earned himself an ejection for the crime of standing on the edge of the dugout during Monday's game against the Oakland Athletics.

Home plate umpire Hunter Wendelstedt sent Boone back to the clubhouse for something that Boone says was uttered by a fan in the stands. Multiple camera angles showed the manager standing expressionless on the steps right before Wendelstedt gave him the hook:

Managers will occasionally act aggrieved during the course of an ejection knowing full well they either deserved it or intentionally antagonize an umpire to light a fire under their team.

In the case of Boone, the evidence against Wendelstedt is pretty damning. He wasn't looking toward the Yankees dugout when he moved to eject Boone and then said it didn't matter who made the offending comment while holding firm in his decision.

ESPN's Jorge Castillo provided some necessary context.

It only took one batter for Boone to register his dissatisfaction with Wendelstedt's calls. He argued Athletics center fielder Esteury Ruiz had swung on an 0-2 count while getting hit by a pitch. The conversation went on long enough for Wendelstedt to warn the manager, "You got anything else to say, you're gone."

That's what prompted Wendelstedt to subsequently dismiss Boone in such a cavalier fashion.

Maybe the Bronx Bombers skipper will think twice the next time he, um, stands in close proximity to a random fan heckling an umpire.