Yanks Go Yard
FanSided

Yankees: Aaron Boone toying with Red Sox made NYY fans feel alive

ByThomas Carannante|
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 05: Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees watches batting practice before game two of the American League Divisional Series against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium on October 05, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - OCTOBER 05: Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees watches batting practice before game two of the American League Divisional Series against the Minnesota Twins at Yankee Stadium on October 05, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The Yankees defeated the Red Sox on Saturday and Aaron Boone made a statement.

Yankees fans know Aaron Boone isn’t one to necessarily hesitate (though sometimes he does!) when making a pitching change, especially against a team like the Red Sox when there’s a threat in the ninth inning.

But the Bombers manager decided to stick it to the ghost of Alex Cora and all of Boston with his bullpen decisions on Saturday night during New York’s 5-2 win over the Sox.

After Masahiro Tanaka was removed in the third inning (he logged two impressive frames before getting knocked around), Boone went with quite the cast: free-agent acquisition Luis Avilan, who owned a 5.06 ERA in 2019, top prospect Nick Nelson, who was making his MLB debut, and David Hale, who now has three career saves.

He was daring the Red Sox to hit and they just couldn’t. It was quite honestly sad to watch, especially when Andrew Benintendi stepped into the box representing the game-tying run with two outs in the top of the ninth. Boone left Hale in the game instead of bringing in lefty Zack Britton, and Hale struck the Sox slugger out, finishing him off with two fastballs.

Not one single marquee bullpen arm was used in a three-run game against the Red Sox. This is pretty much the equivalent of Boone walking out to home plate with the Degeneration X theme song and gesturing the infamous “suck it” to Boston’s dugout. The indirect disrespect is a work of art.

And after the game he said he wanted to watch Britton’s workload! The guy couldn’t come out for one batter in a close game after pitching just two innings this season?! Apparently, the Yanks are savages in the dugout and bullpen, too.

And now the Yankees are going for the sweep on Sunday Night Baseball with a locked and loaded, fully rested bullpen. James Paxton will take the mound against … Austin Brice? Get every broom in your house ready, Yankees fans.

Boone very clearly played for the sweep and couldn’t have set his team up better.

Home/Yankees News

Schedule