Even the most objective Yankees broadcasters are questioning Anthony Volpe's usage

Anthony Volpe burst onto the scene when he first returned from the minor leagues, but there was reason for a healthy dose of skepticism. Sure enough, after a handful of games against inferior competition, the New York Yankees' shortstop's performance disintegrated like a wet cardboard box. It's been incredibly obvious to the fans, even if Aaron Boone would prefer to gaslight us into believing that the 25-year-old is having quality at-bats.

The reality of the situation has gotten so bad that even the Yankees' broadcast team has started to bluntly and honestly call into question Boone's insistence on using Volpe nearly every day, despite a superior option at shortstop readily available in Jose Caballero.

In the top of the sixth inning during the June 9 matchup against the Cleveland Guardians, Volpe stepped into the batter's box with two strikeouts already on his ledger for the day and was in the midst of what would be an 0-for-30 stretch. As he swung at the pitch and popped out to third baseman Jose Ramirez, straight shooting play-by-play man Ryan Ruocco remarked, "You just wonder how long that runway's gonna be for Anthony with the way he's struggled at the plate now for an extended stretch."

"Obviously an issue. Obviously, the spotlight is on him. It's a tough place to be for a great kid who cares so much and works so hard," excellent color commentator David Cone responded.

Both Ruocco and Cone are correct. The Yankees have repeatedly talked up Volpe's character and work ethic, and over the past few years, we've seen nothing to contradict that. At the same time, the leash has to be getting short.

Aaron Boone's head-scratching use of Yankees bust Anthony Volpe extends well past his offensive struggles

Boone has also touted Volpe's defense since returning to the majors, which has to make you question if he's actually conscious during the games. Fielding gaffes and errant throws have been customary since the former top prospect resurfaced.

Meanwhile, Boone has Jose Caballero, who has posted a very respectable four defensive runs saved over 389 innings, either sitting on the bench or playing other positions in favor of this defensive train wreck.

Boone's lineup for the second game of the Guardians series on June 10 looked as if a toddler had picked names out of a hat. The skipper decided to sit top prospect Spencer Jones, who is 6-for-12 and just hit his first career big league homer the night before since being recalled to fill in for the injured Aaron Judge, so that he could play Caballero in right field. Of course, Caballero needed to play right, despite not owning an outfield glove, because it was necessary to play Volpe at short. Again.

That led to a scary moment where he and Trent Grisham got tangled up in the right-center field gap, narrowly avoiding a head-on collision that could have had disastrous implications for New York.

At this point, Boone is so completely deluded when it comes to Volpe that we have real concerns. Not only is he putting a black hole in the lineup day in and day out, but he's also putting out sub-optimal defensive alignments and putting his players at risk. And again, we are forced to talk about this when the team has the most wins in the American League. They can easily make this go away!

Perhaps our only hope is that Brian Cashman, a longtime ardent Volpe defender in his own right, steps in as the voice of reason. With Jasson Dominguez nearing a return from the IL, Cashman could opt to banish Volpe to Scranton in the corresponding roster move, effectively saving Boone from himself. One can only hope that ends up being the case.

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