Yankees: Put some respect on Aaron Boone’s name

After becoming the first manager in MLB history to win 100 games in each of his first two seasons, it’s time to officially give Yankees skipper Aaron Boone the credit he deserves.

When 12-year MLB veteran and then ESPN color commentator Aaron Boone was hired to become the Yankees 33rd manager in club history, a lot was made about his anointment — that Boone was hand-picked by general manager Brian Cashman so that Cash could actually be the one to call the on-field shots.

After all, it was an ugly breakup between the Yanks and Joe Girardi following a 10-year run that ended just one game shy of reaching the World Series in 2017.

However, the 2003 ALCS hero (18th manager to also play for the club) overcame some shaky bullpen management in his first season to guide the Yankees to 100 wins and a trip to the ALDS.

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Although the season ended in a disappointing 3-1 defeat at the hands of the eventual champion Boston Red Sox, Boone was determined to prove he was his own man. As it turns out, Boone is indeed a players manager that steadied the clubhouse and inspired his club on the way to winning their first AL East crown since 2012.

Despite using 53 different players this season after sending 30 men to the injured list (39 stints), the Yankees took hold of the division lead on June 15 and never looked back.

With his infamous “savages in the box” rant forever engrained in our memory, Boone needs five wins in the seasons final eight games to tie Ralph Houk for the most victories in a manager’s first two seasons. Of course, Houk would go on to win World Series Championships in each of those years (1961 and ’62).

Boone’s Yankees also are only the second team since 2010 to win 100 games in multiple seasons (Houston being the other). Going a step further, Boone is just the fourth Yankees skipper in team history to have consecutive 100-win seasons.

After finishing fifth in AL Manager of the Year voting last season, there’s little doubt in my mind that the 45-year-old California native should win the award going away this time around.

Not only because of the stigma he’s overcome, the glaring New York spotlight or the plague of injuries to those in pinstripes — but because he’s a selfless manager that gets the most out of his players — especially those no one expected.

However, as Boone himself admitted to Randy Miller of NJ.com following the Yanks’ 9-1 victory, this club has “bigger aspirations, but it’s important to smell the roses.”

"“I’m just proud of so many guys that have contributed on so many different levels, proud of the organization making really good decisions to put us in a position to withstand some of the adversity that we’ve faced this year,” Boone said. “This is just the first step and hopefully we’ve got a good run in us.”"

Funny enough, Boone’s contract runs through next season with a team option for 2021. Depending on the final outcome of the team’s postseason run, there may be another extension the front office needs to work on this winter — Aaron Boone’s.