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Yankees: 4 Aaron Boone quotes in 2021 that will seal his fate as manager

By Thomas Carannante |
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 06: Manager Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout before a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on September 6, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - SEPTEMBER 06: Manager Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees looks on from the dugout before a game against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on September 6, 2019 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
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Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone is, without a doubt, a nice guy. That much has been evident in his daily interactions with the press, his mannerisms in the dugout, and relationships with his players.

But many would argue that’s one of his fatal flaws. Boone might be too nice and not harsh enough, which may have fostered a culture of complacency devoid of accountability, discipline and consequences. For a prestigious organization, it’s simply unacceptable, and one can only hope the front office has realized that in 2021 — his fourth year at the helm.

Fans were never crazy about Boone’s choice of words, but it’s really boiled over in 2021, as it has coincided with a season-long underachieving performance that may or may not lead to an AL Wild Card berth … when this team was the favorite to win the AL heading into the year.

Yankees fans are always fed up, whether the team wins 103 games or they’re scratching and clawing for a chance to play a one-game playoff on the road.

But unless the Bombers go on a World Series run should they sneak into the postseason, you’d have to imagine Boone is gone. His deflated quotes will be, too.

And here are four that likely sealed his fate in New York should the ball not bounce their way in the final week.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone’s comments may have cost him his job.

4. “I never felt like the fight wasn’t there.”

Last weekend, the Yankees lost a series they really needed to win against the Cleveland Indians. They were outscored 22-4 in the two straight losses on Saturday and Sunday. Save for a few collective innings, the games were never close.

The body language, energy, effort … all non-existent. Yet, Boone somehow saw “fight” from his side.

“I know the guys are locked in,” Boone said after Sunday’s 11-1 loss. “I know they’re preparing. I know how bad they want it. sometimes that can get in your way a little bit…as far as where they are and what their mindset is, and as far as the energy, when you’re getting your teeth kicked in again, I never felt like the fight wasn’t there. The compete is there. we just gotta get the production now.”

Yup, whenever you record 16 hits, four walks and four runs with four errors over 18 innings, that certainly epitomizes resilience.

Manager Aaron Boone high fives Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images)
Manager Aaron Boone high fives Aaron Judge #99 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Steph Chambers/Getty Images) /

3. Still … Having Trouble With the Lineup???

How mad has the average Yankees fan been with Boone’s bullpen usage? How about his lineup cards? How about the fact he benches players when they’re … playing well!

Well, be prepared to slam your fist into the nearest table because in the middle of September Boone acknowledged that “it’s a challenge” to find a balance with playing guys constantly and giving them rest.

Uhhh … the man’s had the deepest lineup he’s seen in four years with plenty of opportunities to “give guys rest” without it overly affecting the makeup of the offense. Explain to us where the issue lies?

You have two starting-caliber first basemen in Voit and Rizzo. You have FIVE other infielders (DJ LeMahieu, Gio Urshela, Rougned Odor, Gleyber Torres and Tyler Wade) that can play multiple positions. Giancarlo Stanton has returned to playing the outfield, and Aaron Judge, Joey Gallo and Brett Gardner can play all three outfield spots. Wade can play the outfield, too!

We’re simply at a loss for words. We can sit here and come up with 50 different variations of this Yankees lineup that would accommodate just about ANYTHING that’s needed for these guys. Still a challenge, though.

Andrew Heaney #38 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images)
Andrew Heaney #38 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Adam Hunger/Getty Images) /

2. “Andrew Heaney has been considerably less bad than the results.”

You thought Boone’s defense of Gleyber Torres and Gary Sanchez has been bad? Somehow it didn’t take long for new trade acquisition Andrew Heaney to join the ranks of those immune to the manager’s criticism.

Heaney came over from the Angels in a deadline trade and we were confused when that was the team’s final move after acquiring Anthony Rizzo and Joey Gallo. Perhaps everyone can understand why now.

The left-hander owns a 7.32 ERA and 1.35 WHIP in 12 games with the Bombers, but that’s not even really the worst part. He’s legitimate batting practice for opposing hitters, surrendering 13 home runs in 35.2 innings with the Yankees (good for 3.3 per nine innings) and 29 total across his 129.2 innings this year (good for 2.0 per nine innings).

By far, his worst stretch of the season has come in the Bronx … but Boone figured out a way to escape calling Heaney “bad.”

“He’s been considerably less bad than the results.” What’re we doing here?

It’s not like Heaney’s ERA is insanely high and his FIP is low. Or his BABIP is off the charts. He’s all-around bad. Look for a stat. Did you find one? Great. It proves Andrew Heaney is not very good. We’re upset about it! We don’t want to be evaluating our own players as “bad.” But he objectively is, especially this year, and there should be no beating around the bush.

Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images)
Manager Aaron Boone #17 of the New York Yankees (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

1. “Hitting is hard.”

Let’s take a trip down memory lane. The Yankees started the season 5-10.  They got punked by the Blue Jays and Rays. They simply couldn’t score. Though they averaged four runs per game, that figure was inflated by 17 runs in their three-game set against the O’s. In the other seven games, they scored 23 runs, which is good for barely over three per game.

What was the issue? The entire roster was healthy. They weren’t going up against good pitching — it was totally solid, at best. Though those lineups had Aaron Hicks, Clint Frazier and Jay Bruce in them … they were still considered very good.

Oh wait. Wait! We found the problem. We got it.

Hitting. Is. Hard. Is that what’s etched on the overhead entrance of Cooperstown so everybody knows how much more impressive the achievements of all the legends they’re about to learn about really were?

Fans very well know how difficult hitting is. A “really good” average is .300, which means you fail seven out of 10 times. Insulting the viewers’ intelligence — though not intentionally — has been a staple for Boone over the last two years. He’s constantly telling us we didn’t see what we saw. He’s finding new and improved ways to spin a narrative so it doesn’t seem that bad.

That’s what you do with children! Not a fan base that spends hundreds of dollars every time they step foot in Yankee Stadium. This either needs to end, or Boone needs to go. Because the fans are fed up with it.

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