Category: Manager Evaluation Page 1 of 7

Year three of the Aaron Boone era ended the same way the last two did: short of World Series expectations. This time, the Rays bounced the Yankees in the ALDS.

I don’t think Boone handled things well in this series against the Rays, whether it was Game 2 (which in fairness wasn’t just his decision), trying to steal outs with Masahiro Tanaka, or pinch hitting Mike Ford in Game 5. I also don’t think he acquitted himself well after the series was over, reacting harshly to a question about whether or not the season was a failure.

The Yankees have a decision to make on Boone soon. The manager’s contract has an option for 2021, and in spite of some curious in-game decisions and three straight disappointing playoff performances, it sounds like he’ll back back.

With that, let’s get to our last survey of the year. In addition to the three usual questions, I’ve also added one more regarding Boone’s 2021 option. Please take some time to vote below. And if you want to see the results from last week’s survey, scroll down and click read more.

Read More

The Yankees are back on the upswing. It’s been a topsy-turvy year for Aaron Boone’s club, but last week, the team rebounded to advance to the ALDS against Tampa Bay. It’d be nice if the team remains on the up and up this week against the Rays, who had Boone’s team’s number this season.

As we do every Monday during the season, let’s get a feel for how everyone’s feeling about Boone’s performance. But before we get to the survey questions, here’s a brief summary of Boone’s last week at the helm:

• The skipper pushed the right button by starting Brett Gardner over Clint Frazier against Cleveland. The vet reached base in five of ten plate appearances and contributed a couple of key hits. Boone simply played the hotter hand and it paid off.
• Another good move: the timing of replacing Chad Green with Zack Britton in Game 2. Up 8-6 with two on and one out, the manager summoned Britton and got an inning ending double play. Just as planned.
• It wasn’t all roses for Boone, however. There were a handful of questionable decisions made in Game 2 that could have cost the Yankees the game:
  • Masahiro Tanaka did not have it, but Boone pushed him into the fifth while up 6-4. It was the third time Tanaka would face the top of Cleveland’s order, and naturally, the first two batters reached. Only then did Boone make the change for Chad Green.
  • In the top of the 7th, Boone pinch ran Tyler Wade for Luke Voit after a leadoff walk in an 8-6 game. Cleveland tied it and Wade’s spot came up in the 8th with two on and two out, though Clint pinch hit there. Hindsight is 20/20, especially after Frazier struck out. Still, it would have been nice to have Voit remaining in a game that was far from over.
  • Cleveland’s acting manager for the series, Sandy Alomar Jr., baited Boone into pulling Zack Britton in the bottom of the seventh with the Yankees still up 8-6. Alomar put up righty Jordan Luplow in place of lefty Josh Naylor after back-to-back two out walks. Boone countered with Jonathan Loaisiga, who quickly gave up a game-tying double. Look, Loaisiga should have gotten the job done against Luplow, but Alomar noted how much better they felt about that matchup than Britton vs. Naylor or Luplow.

To see last week’s voting results, please click Read More below.

Read More

That’s that for the 2020 regular season. A disappointing finish, to put it lightly. Aaron Boone’s club stumbled down the stretch but has a chance for renewal starting tomorrow against Cleveland in the first round of the postseason. Here’s this past week’s Boone news, followed by the evaluation survey:

• The skipper acknowledged that the team hasn’t played well, but hopes that they can turn the switch come Tuesday. They have to, really.
• Boone got ejected on Friday night and erupted on home plate umpire John Tumpane.
• It’s easy to see that Kyle Higashioka is Gerrit Cole’s personal catcher. But Boone dropped a bit of a surprise during his weekly WFAN interview, saying that the starting catcher will be a “day to day” decision.
• The manager isn’t worried about Aaron Judge’s performance since returning from the injured list.
• Boone was interviewed by Steve Serby.
• Lastly, Boone’s thoughts on the Yankees’ Wild Card opponent, Cleveland:

Aaron Boone on facing the Indians in the Wild Card round:

“We know we’ll have our hands full” pic.twitter.com/zKqdTbKQit

— Yankees Videos (@snyyankees) September 27, 2020

Poll time:

Read More

The Yankees may have lost yesterday, but it was undoubtedly a good week for Aaron Boone’s squad. The team went 5-1, ran up its winning streak to 10 games, and clinched a playoff spot. Here’s the latest on Boone before we get to the survey questions:

• As mentioned, the Yankees clinched a postseason berth, making Boone 3-for-3 in seasons reaching the postseason as a manager. The manager probably celebrated with a glass of wine.
• The team is still playing for home field advantage in the Wild Card round, namely the fourth seed. Boone acknowledged the advantage of playing at Yankee Stadium, but also noted his confidence regardless of playing location. As any good team’s manager should say.
• As we can all see, Luke Voit is playing through pain. Boone won’t divulge any details though.
• Boone is considering using Kyle Higashioka as Gerrit Cole’s personal catcher. The skipper called it a “good pairing” and that he liked the “page and rhythm” they’ve been in.
• The manager is getting his team’s rotation in order in preparation for the postseason. Cole and Tanaka will be set up to debut in the postseason on an extra day of rest.

Please take a moment to vote on the three poll questions below. Then click read more to see the results through last week.

Read More