Yankees: 3 replacements for Aaron Boone in 2021

The Yankees probably won’t replace Aaron Boone in 2021, but it’s worth asking: If they DID replace him, who’d be the man for the job?

New York Yankees fans are in “out for blood” mode right now, unfortunately, as is often the case after the team’s playoff exits, no matter the circumstances.

This time around, however, a good amount of the consternation is warranted.

Not because the Yankees were the objectively better team — the Rays and their Stable probably merit that honor. But because this is the fourth consecutive postseason (Astros, Red Sox, Astros again, Rays), where the Yanks went toe-to-toe with their rivals as the underdog, got edged, and didn’t get the benefit of a single tactical maneuver, bounce, or matchup adjustment.

In this instance in particular, Aaron Boone has gotten roasted, along with the front office, for going out of his way to stick a fork in the Yankees’ momentum after Game 1. Deivi Garcia pitched only a singular inning in an effort to save him for Games 4 and 5, when he absolutely wasn’t needed. JA Happ was asked to handle bulk duties, something the Rays were entirely prepared for. It wasn’t good.

So, on the oft chance the front office decides to un-install their puppet master, who could the Yankees actually turn to in Boone’s stead? The options are intriguing.

3. George Lombard

Dodgers first base coach George Lombard will be a hot candidate for many managerial jobs this offseason — including the Yankees?

The very second the Los Angeles Dodgers’ postseason run ends this year, in socially-distanced champagne or in shame, George Lombard will be on the phone with a wide variety of potential major league suitors.

With the managerial pool polluted this time around with retread criminals AJ Hinch and Alex Cora, Lombard’s presence could be seen as the guiding light to goodness.

The former Brave and Tiger has been held in high regard, training under Dave Roberts since 2016. His upbringing is also of note; his mother, a Civil Rights activist, marched with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Lombard’s steady leadership and the excellent tutelage he’s received has him perfectly set up for his first managerial opportunity in this difficult era.

Lombard seems like (sigh) an excellent choice to be the Astros manager who succeeds the great Dusty Baker whenever he decides to hang ’em up. Perhaps he’ll be atop the Tigers list, too.

If the Yankees want to wade in the managerial pool, they’ll certainly be giving Lombard a call.

1. Buck Showalter

Yankees manager Buck Showalter just sounds right — after all, it fully happened already!

If you’ve found Buck Showalter’s honesty refreshing on the YES Network throughout this pandemic-shortened season, you’re certainly not alone.

Throughout his career, Showalter, an excellent evaluator of talent, has always been the bridesmaid rather than the bride. He piloted the Yankees pre-dynasty from 1992-1995, and was fired after the team’s demise in Seattle. He moved onto the Diamondbacks, building a 100-win season from scratch in the franchise’s second-ever campaign in 1999, before losing his gig to Bob Brenly prior to their 2001 World Series season.

After managing the offense-rich, pitching-dead Rangers, he built a culture of winning in one place where such a thing previously seemed impossible: Baltimore. He brought the O’s to the 2014 ALCS during a powerful run.

Showalter is everything the current Yankees administration is not, but he’s got the attitude that fans have been clamoring for. He’s the blustery Phil Nevin with the managerial acumen necessary to dig downtrodden franchises out of cultural black holes, and he’s never really been handed the keys to a metaphorical sports car before.

Will it happen? It likely will not. But we can dream, right? And Showalter’s been more heavily involved with the organization than ever before in 2020, dominating broadcasts with regularity. Can we at least advocate for a bench coach role?

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