When the Yankees booted their old-world manager, Joe Girardi, they were keen on replacing him with a newer, softer touch. In comes Aaron Boone, who talked in tongues not known to the hardened types like G.I. Joe, who believed in his book and his old-school bromides. Boone was going to love these Baby Bombers until they loved themselves. At first, it felt, well, weird. These were the Yankees, who wore the pinstripes, traveled in suits and carried themselves like stone-faced pros. Folks hated that the Yankees and their fans acted like they were better than everyone else. Even worse, they knew they were better than anyone else.
So why change 90 years of unprecedented history? Would Joe McCarthy dwell in 12-step emotion? Or Billy Martin? Or Buck Showalter? Yet it's working. The Yankees recently decided they would just stop losing, going 15-1 over the last few weeks. They can shut out the World Series champion Astros and their loaded lineup, or they can make a late-inning surge against the pitching-rich Cleveland Indians. They can beat you with bats or arms, from the first inning on or break your back in the ninth.
MORE: Silverman: Yankees-Red Sox Series Could Come Down To Bullpens And as the Yankees prepare to plunge back into the best rivalry in American sports, squaring off with their century-long tormentors, the Boston Red Sox, it's fitting that one of the most vital members in the history of said rivalry is pushing the buttons from the dugout. If any man deserves a front-row seat to Red Sox-Yankees, it's Boone, who earned his own vulgar sobriquet -- Aaron F*#@ing Boone -- with his epic homer in the 11th inning of Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS. For the moment, there seems to be some consensus that not only are these two clubs among the hottest in MLB (the Yankees by far are the most scalding in the sport), but that these are also the two best teams in baseball. For now. The Red Sox seemed to run and hide On April 20, the Sox were an absurd 17-2, by far in first place, and seemed set to moonwalk to the AL East crown. By startling contrast, the Yankees were in third place, at 9-9, and 7 1/2 games behind Boston. Then the Yanks went nuts and now are only one game out of first place. The field has even assumed some sizzle and testosterone, with some hard glares, shoves and scuffles between the two clubs this young season. No one wants a full-blown brawl with injuries and long-term suspensions. But a fan would be lying if he or she said it wasn't a bit refreshing to find some disdain on the diamond. There has always been some debate over how essential a manager is. We all know the best football coaches -- like our local Tuna, Bill Parcells -- can win anywhere. We've seen basketball coaches, from Pat Riley to Phil Jackson, win NBA titles with multiple squads. But what about the baseball manager? Do Joe Torre and Tony La Russa have all those wins because they stuck around so long? Or because they had such good players? Or because they knew how to develop good players into great players?
MORE: MLB Officially Announces Yankees-Red Sox Games In London A baseball manager doesn't direct every part of every play the way an NFL coach does. But the top man always gets the blame when the team tanks, so let's give Boone the nod for this Herculean surge in the standings. The Bombers won't continue to win 93.75 percent of their games, as they have since April 20, but it sure gives this series at Fenway Park -- one of the last real ballparks still used for pro baseball -- some added heft. Players in all sports fraternize more than ever. Stars from opposing teams ride on banana boats. They trade Twitter banter. Their wives go to lunch. They join in business ventures or charities. Gone are the Riley days of refusing to help the enemy off the ground. Not even the fans regard each other with the same intestinal hatred that mushroomed for decades. Maybe we can thank the new breed for some of that, to compete without contempt. Either way, we can salute Boone for his team's improving place in the standings. Follow Jason on Twitter at @JasonKeidel
