Aaron Boone's latest defense of Austin Wells is more of the same Yankees nonsense

Austin Wells might've gotten two hits on Monday against the Pirates, but they somehow played zero role in generating offense for the Yankees in a game they scored eight runs. That sounds about right for a guy hitting .158 with a .511 OPS and 44 OPS+ on the season.

Wells, by no exaggeration, is perhaps the worst hitter in the sport. He's building a case to have the worst offensive season for a catcher in the last century. Though he's been good behind the plate and has built a rapport with the pitching staff, his bat has been objectionable.

Why the Yankees have given him unlimited run a la Anthony Volpe is confusing. In fact, it's arguably worse than how they've handled Volpe! Wells is considerably worse than Volpe ever was during this current stretch of 70 games.

Look to Triple-A, and JC Escarra is catching fire. Remember that guy? The one manager Aaron Boone told was a top-15 catcher in the game? Well, it appears as if a .352 average and 1.107 OPS in Scranton isn't enough to force a conversation.

Boone was asked if the Yankees were considering making a switch at catcher by giving Escarra the call after his torrid stretch, and the manager unequivocally backed Wells without hesitation. In fact, he sounded miffed by the topic even being broached on Talkin' Yanks.

"No. Not right now. No. Not right now. I mean, I thought Wellsy, in the Washington series, swung the bat well. I think he's looked like a different hitter in the last 7-8 games. So, I want to see that play out a little bit. Obviously we're getting close to the trade deadline and all these things."

Austin Wells is a different hitter, per Aaron Boone, even though he is not

Wells' numbers have been better over his last eight games, but we can't say .217 with a .786 OPS is enough to deem that turnaround-worthy. He's still been logging non-competitive at-bats and making incredibly soft contact.

Boone mentioned the trade deadline, so hopefully the replacement comes then. It's understandable why Escarra wouldn't be an option to take reps from Wells — he was just as bad at the MLB level with a .188 average and .510 OPS. When Wells went on a rehab assignment, even he clobbered two home runs in a game, so it's clear the two are simply Quad-A catchers. Swapping them in and out will do nothing. (That said, we weren't the ones who believed Escarra was a top catcher in the sport.)

Yankees fans have desperately called for a change in voice with the club's leader. Boone is a players' manager, which has been made clear by every player that has spoken about him. He will never be critical of his guys, no matter how damning the evidence. While it's admirable, it's also detrimental. There is, of course, the reality that this is the hand Boone has been dealt and the front office is demanding Wells gets the run. Either way, it's a massive organizational failure that has boxed them into a corner on far too many occasions.

There just better be a new starting catcher come Aug. 3 or else the Yankees won't really be able to call themselves bondafide World Series contenders.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow