Jazz Chisholm backtracks on his controversial comments about Angels

Aug 7, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees third baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. (13) reacts during the third inning against the Los Angeles Angels at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

Jazz Chisholm is apologizing after sending the most random stray at the Los Angeles Angels.

Chisholm and the New York Yankees were victorious in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Kansas City Royals on Saturday. It was an RBI single by Yankees outfielder Alex Verdugo that broke a 5-5 tie in the seventh inning and lifted the Yankees to a 6-5 win.

Speaking with reporters after the game, Chisholm got asked about Verdugo’s performance and responded with [checks notes] a swipe at the Angels.

“He lives for this,” said Chisholm of Verdugo. “He’s played in big cities before. He played in Boston, he played in L.A., and I’m not talking about the Angels, you know what I mean?”

Chisholm’s comments were met with some sharp backlash from Angels fans, especially since the Angels are sitting at home thousands of miles away right now and minding their own business. As a result, Chisholm issued a “my bad” in a post to his X page on Sunday.

“Didn’t mean to offend you Angels fans,” Chisholm wrote. “Sorry #lovedisney.”

The former All-Star Chisholm was probably just trying to be funny while referencing the fact that Verdugo has been on multiple playoff teams before (namely, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Boston Red Sox). While Chisholm is entirely correct that the Angels have not been to the playoffs since 2014 (now the longest active postseason drought in MLB), there was probably no need to mention them there.

Chisholm is a bit of a newbie himself when it comes to playoff baseball as Saturday marked just his fourth career postseason game. But Chisholm and the Yankees definitely had luck on their side in Game 1 as it seems that they benefited from a bad call to win the game.