Broadcaster says Red Sox pitcher should drill Yankees’ Austin Wells, fight Jazz Chisholm Jr.

At 05:17 UTC on Aug. 31, The New York Times reported that WEEI’s on‑air voice suggested the Red Sox should have a pitcher deliberately hit Yankees catcher Austin Wells and then physically confront Jazz Chisholm Jr. The broadcaster used the verbs “drill” and “fight” while commenting on a controversial late‑game steal. Later reporting from Boston.com and The Boston Globe recorded that the broadcaster, identified as WEEI’s Will Flemming, issued an on‑air apology after the comments provoked a surge of criticism. Yahoo Sports and ABC7 New York amplified the backlash, describing the remarks as “bush league” and emphasizing fan outrage over the aggressive tone. Heavy.com noted the growing heat, while the New York Post ran a piece arguing that Jazz Chisholm Jr.

“had every right” on his stolen bases, underscoring the rivalry’s intensity. The coverage shows a split in editorial framing. Bleacher Report, Bleed Cubbie Blue and ABC7 repeated the “bush league” label, focusing on the broadcaster’s harsh language. In contrast, the NY Post article emphasized Chisholm’s legitimate stolen‑base tactics, presenting the comments as a reaction to his aggressive play rather than outright condemnation. This divergence reflects differing narrative angles across outlets, with some centering on the controversial suggestion and others on the competitive context of the Yankees‑Red Sox matchup.

Current reporting indicates Flemming’s apology has been publicly aired, but no formal disciplinary measures have been announced by the station or the league. The incident continues to dominate sports talk radio and social media discussions, with fans and analysts debating the appropriateness of calling for a pitcher to “drill” a catcher and to “fight” an opposing player. The story remains active across the same set of outlets that first covered the remarks.