Yankees manager Aaron Boone again blunders with the bullpen

With a day off on Monday and a one-run lead in the seventh inning, Yankees manager Aaron Boone, mismanages the bullpen again, blowing another would-be win.

Editor’s Note: This article was written in-game before the Yankees defeat.

Aaron Boone insisted on leaving minor league call-up Domingo German on the mound after 50-plus pitches to face left-handed hitter Anthony Santander, who promptly homered to right field as Giancarlo Stanton watched in dismay.

It’s tough to understand why Boone races to remove his starters, although he preaches the importance of their length, and is virtually complacent about leaving volatile rookies on the mound in critical times of close games.

One would think Boone gave up on this questionable strategy after his failed experiences with Jonathan Holder, who was finally sent down to the minors after three terrible appearances.

Boone had no reason to over-extend German since the Yankees are off on Monday, in addition to having plenty of fire-power available in the bullpen.

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What happened to David Robertson or Dellin Betances in the seventh? Boone’s erratic behavior, with what was once the Yankees’ greatest weapon, has befuddled fans and baseball analysts alike.

Now, if the game is forced into extra innings (which it was), Boone will be forced to use his ‘pen anyway, and in a must-win situation, where is the logic in his strategy?

Managing the pitching staff with a five-run lead from the first inning, or a three-run advantage after 4.2 innings, should not be nearly as tight as Boone makes it with the weapons he has at his disposal.

Most importantly, no lineup in baseball, no matter how good, can continuously sustain being put under pressure to bail out their manager’s bullpen blunders. It is a formula for making mediocrity out of greatness.

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Someone on this Yankees club must remind Mr. Boone that these games count equally to those in September, and his paranoia about overusing relievers in the first half of the season will become moot if the Yankees have to play a wild-card game or do not make the playoffs at all.