The Yankees must love coming up short in the postseason. As the Red Sox celebrate their latest blowout ALCS win over the Astros, the Yankees announced they’re bringing back Aaron Boone for three more years.
Tee-hee.
The Yankees have underachieved under Boone, falling short in the playoffs every season under his stewardship. He’s 3-4 in playoff series and his overall postseason record is 11-11. New York is 1-4 against the Red Sox in October with Boone in the dugout as well.
He hit that grand slam in 2003, and has been taking his baseball karma ever since.
Many of the Yankees’ problems are structural. Brian Cashman has built a one-dimensional team that largely relies on the home run ball. While that’s true of many teams, the Yankees take the all-or-nothing approach to another level.
There wasn’t an easier out in baseball down the stretch than Joey Gallo, who Boone inexplicably kept in the cleanup spot.
The Yankees’ $324 million ace, Gerrit Cole, also imploded at Fenway Park.
Still, Boone has been unable to get the most out of his talent, unlike Alex Cora and Kevin Cash. Cora is single-handedly showing the importance of a manager who thinks for himself, and isn’t afraid to get in his players’ faces. It’s hard to imagine Boone scolding a player for taunting, as Cora did to Eduardo Rodriguez Monday night.
And the difference is in the playoff record. The Red Sox are 17-5 under Cora in the postseason. That is the best record for any MLB manager through their first 22 playoff games.
For years, the Yankees had the infallible October skipper. Now that’s been reversed. What a beautiful sight.