The Rays' Brandon Lowe took a brutal swipe at the Yankees after benches cleared twice in their game
So much has been said about the New York Yankees’ dreadful 2023 season that it almost seemed impossible for the year to get any worse for them. But these Yankees always find a way to reach a new low.
Just look at how their American East rival Tampa Bay Rays view the Yankees.
The Rays took two of three of their weekend series against New York, and Sunday’s finale included a pair of bench-clearing incidents (and a hilarious wipeout in the dugout). While either incident could have escalated into a full-out brawl, both teams showed enough restraint to resolve the altercations with nothing more than shouting and standing around.
The reason for that, according to the Rays’ Brandon Lowe: The Yankees aren’t worth the trouble.
"It's a last place team against a team that's in contention… Not worth our time… We need each game. They're not really in each game."
(via @BallyRays) pic.twitter.com/BcJz1LAKlj
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) August 28, 2023
Speaking with the Bally Sports broadcast after the game, Lowe was asked about Sunday’s on-field fireworks. He said that the Rays weren’t going to let a last-place team get in the way of their larger goals by starting a fight:
“Obviously, tempers flared. The history that we do have with the Yankees is everything that’s kind of come through — obviously, does kind of play a part in it. But looking at it, it’s a last-place team against a team that’s in contention. They’re trying to ignite something over there — whatever. Not worth our time at this moment. We’re focused on bigger things right now than worrying about a little on-field scuffle. We need each game. They’re not really in each game.”
Imagine seeing this quote from a Rays player about the Yankees before this season. It would have been shocking. But let’s be honest — Lowe wasn’t wrong. The Yankees are just coasting into the offseason, and the Rays are the likely top AL wild-card team.
Fans also had thoughts about the postgame quote.