Braves broadcaster Joe Simpson has "created another stir," with Nationals President of Baseball Operations & GM Mike Rizzo confronting Simpson for "questioning the age" of rookie LF Juan Soto, who hails from the Dominican Republic, according to Ken Rosenthal of THE ATHLETIC. Simpson yesterday on the FS South broadcast said of Soto, "If he's 19, he has certainly got his man growth." Rizzo, after learning of the remarks, said that he "spoke with Simpson." Soto's age had "not previously been questioned." Rizzo said, "I had a definite reaction. I handled it face to face, privately with him. I believe he understood my stance on his comments." Simpson "clarified his statements" on Soto during the second game of the doubleheader. Simpson: "If you were with us in Game 1, you might have heard me make a comment off the top of my head about if he's 19. Well, he is. He's bonafide 19. And he is a full-grown man. He is strong. And he is one heck of a player" (THEATHLETIC.com, 8/8). In DC, Ryan Wormeli wrote Simpson "probably didn't intend to come across as prejudiced, but it's hard to imagine him making a similar comment about a white player from America" (NBCSPORTSWASHINGTON.com, 8/7). USA TODAY's Jesse Yomtov notes this is the "second time in recent weeks that Simpson has made headlines, after ranting that the Dodgers were being 'unprofessional' by wearing T-shirts for batting practice" (USA TODAY, 8/8).
DAMAGE CONTROL: In N.Y., Mollie Walker noted after Yankees OF Clint Frazier "took offense" to the way ESPN Radio N.Y.'s Michael Kay discussed his injury on his radio show Monday, Kay "took to Twitter to directly answer Frazier's tweet about the incident before going on his own show" yesterday -- while on vacation -- to "issue a lengthy explanation." Kay used a "poor choice of words to express his disappointment" in not having Yankees OF Jacoby Ellsbury or Frazier available to play against the Red Sox on Sunday. Kay in his explanation said, "I said shame on Jacoby Ellsbury and shame on Clint Frazier for not getting better, meaning obviously I meant that they're not here, it's a shame that they're not here. And I said shame on -- thinking that people would obviously understand the words but ... I messed up" (NYPOST.com, 8/7).
