Yankees react to winning their conflict with ESPN

by Felix Pantaleón

ESPN is expected to air the Angels and Dodgers game on Sunday Night Baseball on July 8 instead of the Yankees-Blue Jays game in Toronto.

TORONTO— ESPN struck out swinging trying to force the Yankees into playing three games in 24 hours next month.

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The Yankees angrily protested last weekend when their game in Toronto on July 8 was picked up by ESPN for Sunday Night Baseball one day after a straight 4:05 p.m. doubleheader was scheduled in Baltimore due to last Thursday’s rainout there.

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A couple days of negotiations that involved commissioner Rob Manfred led to a resolution:

The first pitch for the Yankees’ series finale against the Jays at Rogers Centre on July 8 will go back to 1:07 p.m. – the original start time – instead of being moved to 8:05 p.m.

Nothing’s been announced yet, but ESPN instead is expected to pick up the Los Angeles Angels at Los Angeles Dodgers on July 8.

“That’s obviously really good news we got today,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said Tuesday before his club began a two-game series in Toronto. “I’m excited to hear that. I’m glad.

“I think a lot of people behind the scenes (worked on this). I think the commissioner was very involved.”

USA TODAY reported the Yankees were threatening to boycott ESPN for interviews if their July 8 game was played at night.

“We’ve had some internal discussions about what we could do potentially, but let’s hope it doesn’t get to that point,” Yankees player rep David Robertson said on Monday.

A day later, this battle ended with the Yankees winning.

“I’m just really grateful to him and to ESPN and to the Yankees and all the people involved that I think clearly ended up doing the right thing here in considering the product and player safety and all those kinds of things,” Boone said.

Randy Miller may be reached at rmiller@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RandyJMiller. Find NJ.com on Facebook.