Clint Frazier does not regret the way he handled himself after Sunday’s poor defensive game against the Boston Red Sox.
Frazier committed an error and had at least one other miscue in the seventh inning of Sunday’s loss to Boston. He did not speak with the media after the game, leaving his teammates to answer for his play.
The New York Yankees had the day off on Monday, but Frazier did speak with reporters before Tuesday’s game at Toronto. He said he didn’t regret the way he handled things.
“No, I don’t regret it. And to be fair, I don’t think I owe anyone an explanation because it’s not a rule that I have to speak,” Frazier told reporters, via ESPN’s Marly Rivera. “I know that it came out that I was ducking the media, but that was not what I am trying to do. I have owned up to my mistakes in the past, saying that it shouldn’t happen.”
Frazier then shared his belief that some of the treatment he has received from the media has been unfair.
“Since I got traded over here it’s been some stories that shouldn’t have come out that have come out. And it’s difficult because the way I am perceived by people is not how I think I really am. Stories that shouldn’t be stories have been stories. It started with the hair. Then it started with me asking for a number that I didn’t ask for. Then it started with another guy saying I should be out on the field playing through a concussion. And it’s been difficult and I don’t feel like it’s been fair at times. I don’t owe an apology for not talking.”
Frazier actually received an apology from the person who spread the jersey number story. The concussion story he’s referring to dates back to comments YES Network host and Yankees announcer Michael Kay made about him last August.
Frazier also said he has long struggled to fit in many places because his confidence rubs people the wrong way. He further said that he knows he needs to talk with the media after bad games but acknowledged it was the worst game of his career and he needed a pat on the back.
… after that, it was difficult. My teammates knew what I did wrong and everyone else knew what I did wrong. I had a lot of people talk to me and I needed a pat on the back. I am working as hard as I can. It’s difficult."
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) June 4, 2019
Frazier was in the lineup for Tuesday’s game as a DH.
Going through adversity and persevering when you’re down is part of being a pro. Doing so is especially difficult in New York with all the intense media coverage and fan enthusiasm. But handling your failures as well as your successes includes talking with the media after either happens. Maybe Frazier has learned that lesson.
