The Yankees are just one game over .500 and nine games back in the AL East midway through June. Since the beginning of 2020, their record isn’t much better. Simply put, this isn’t where Aaron Boone and company expected to be after back-to-back 100-win seasons.
But Boone once again reiterated on Tuesday that while the team is looking to make adjustments after losing three in a row and seven of their last 10, the overwhelming belief is that the current team is still capable of much more.
“I wholeheartedly believe we have to stick with what we believe in, especially with what we believe we have within this group, and what this group is capable of,” Boone said. “That said, we’re at a point in the season where we’ve had enough of a sample here to where we can no longer say ‘eh, it’s a small sample.’ We’re one game over .500 with over a third of the season gone. I think it’s important you have the ability to make certain adjustments or make little alterations or to really evaluate different processes we have in place, or different things that are core beliefs to us…which we have been over the past few weeks.”
So far this season, belief has gotten the Yankees nowhere but fourth place in the AL East. So as Boone continues to remain positive in what has been a frustrating season so far, he isn’t immune to the pressure and the demands that come with his position, knowing results matter much more than optimism.
“I’m certainly feeling the pressure,” Boone said. “It’s been a hard year. Obviously we got off to a difficult start the first couple weeks of the season and then kind of righted the ship for a week, but obviously these last couple weeks have been tough, and I wear that. I feel that.”
Brian Cashman once again gave Boone a vote on confidence on Tuesday, but even though the two seam to be in sync with the Yankees’ current competitive approach and believing process will eventually give way to results, that marriage can change if the losses continue to pile up. Right now, there doesn’t seem to be any changes on the horizon, but security doesn’t mean anything about the current stretch is enjoyable, not when a team with World Series expectations is barely poking its head above the .500 mark.
“You’re invested in this job and you care about what’s going on and how your team performs,” Boone said. “You care about the guys in that room and your staff. I don’t think you’re human if you don’t feel that…this is our livelihood. It matters to us. When you’re not performing like you expect, that sits with you a little bit.”
Follow Ryan Chichester on Twitter: @ryanchichester1
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