Yankees manager Aaron Boone goes against the grain

For the first time in 10 years, there will be a new regime in the Yankees clubhouse led by rookie manager Aaron Boone.

Heading into Spring Training, veteran Yankees reliever Adam Warren spoke for many when he remarked to Eric Boland of Newsday, “it’s going to be weird.”

Randy Miller of NJ.com has said:

"The players know Boone has no manager experience, but because there is so much youth on the club, I think most everyone will buy into their new boss."

For the first time since 1998, Rob Thomson, now the bench coach for the Philadelphia Phillies, will not be running Spring Training in Tampa. Instead, it will be new third base coach Phil Nevin and infield coach Carlos Mendoza. There will be lots of firsts for Boone and company this season.

Boone will transition from the broadcast booth to the dugout before our eyes. Again, Randy Miller of NJ.com has said:

"Boone has no experience managing but I respect his baseball knowledge. I know that he knows the game inside and out, but it takes a while for a new manager to slow the game down."

Boone will face numerous challenges, not least of which is returning this team to the Postseason, including a World Series win.

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With the team on the brink of a World Series appearance in 2017, nothing less than replicating that success in 2018 will do, and Boone seems to welcome the challenge. Pete Caldera of NorthJersey.com recently reported:

"I think teams will be gunning for us a little bit more… I think that’s something that we, as an organization, and we as a team should embrace."

Aaron Boone brings the right attitude to the job — that bring-it-on perspective that is not just lip service but defines how the Yankees plan to do business.

But before he can start winning championships, Boone has to resolve the battles brewing in camp this spring. He must decide whether to go with a pair of rookies in the infield, which behemoth bat to stake out in right field and how to stack the lineup to take advantage of one of the best rosters in all of baseball.

Fans wonder whether Boone’s communication skills and analytics will help him deal with the expectations that have skyrocketed — ever since he was hired because of the addition of Giancarlo Stanton.

Yankees’ general manager Brian Cashman has said:

"There are different people and different players, and we have improved concepts."

PECOTA has projected the Yankees to win the American League East by nine games, with a 96-66 record in 2018. Boone was quoted by Bob Nightengale of USA Today as saying,

"I look at where we are, and I know we are really good. But I also have been around long enough that its not as easy as it seems sometimes."

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Boone is aware that the challenges of ’18 will not be easy and he knows what’s expected in the Bronx. On the brink of what will surely be another historic season, Boone brings intelligence, determination and grit to the job and Yankee fans believe he will succeed.