Yankees: Aroldis Chapman was the right move

Everyone is talking about Yankees manager Aaron Boone’s “tough” decision in Sunday’s matchup gamble against the Toronto Blue Jays, but why did we not hear the name, Aroldis Chapman?

Well, boo-hoo! After reading the latest articles a full day after Sunday’s ridiculous loss by the Yankees to the Jays, I felt like I needed to rush to get out my Yankee “crying towel” which I thought I surely wouldn’t need in 2018.

Look, as I said in my previous post, managing a baseball team is a tough job. Doing it in the Bronx for the most celebrated sports franchise in history requires not only nerves of steel, but also on the job experience. It seems that Aaron Boone has neither.

The decision to walk Josh Donaldson to face Justin Smoak was questionable at the very least. The decision to allow David Robertson to stay in the game at that point was even more absurd when you have LHP Aroldis Chapman, the highest paid closer in history, in your bullpen and available for a four-out save.

However, the decision by Boone, after the debacle, to point the finger at D-Rob, and say that even he agreed with the decision, is regrettable indeed. And in itself shows why Boone’s appointment was a mistake. As Aaron Boone told The NY Daily News:

"“It was the matchup that we determined we prefer with Robbie,” Boone reasoned. “We liked him better against Smoak and I think he felt better with that matchup. You have to tip your cap, Smoak worked a heck of an at-bat, fouled off some really tough pitches and then finally got one and he ends up having a huge day against us, obviously. We were comfortable with the matchup, but didn’t get it done today.”More from Yankees NewsAaron Judge Time interview scared Yankees as much as it scared youWhy weren’t Yankees in on Kodai Senga now that we know the price?Baseball Reference proves Yankees’ Aaron Judge lives rent free in BostonYankees’ Clay Holmes trade just became even bigger disaster for PiratesMets stealing New York Post’s entire Yankees offseason plan is hilarious"

So we should all “tip our caps” to Smoak who “worked a heck of an at-bat.” Is that really what we want to hear from the manager of our Yankees? Excuses like, D-Rob said it was ok, and tip your cap to Smoak, don’t get it done in my book.

I’m betting that the Yankees’ ownership did not totally agree with GM Brian Cashman’s appointment of Aaron Boone to manage their team, especially in a learn on the job-type program.

I am also quite sure they did not put Boone in the dugout to get consent and agreement of the players on the field. The brass certainly did not put Boone there to “tip his cap” to the opposition.

Next: Biggest concerns after opening weekend

So why did they managing partner Hal Steinbrenner allow Aaron Boone to become the manager of his club in a year when a run at a championship is so widely expected?

What do you think?