Yankees fans can already sense Aaron Boone's inability to handle shortstop situation

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone doesn't sound like he has any idea how he's going to handle the Anthony Volpe-José Caballero shortstop controversy about to hit the Yankees' clubhouse. With Volpe's imminent return (Wednesday or Thursday, it's been reported) clashing violently with Caballero's awesome production (.357 with three homers over the last 15 games), Boone absolutely must go against New York's original plan for Volpe and keep Caballero as the starter. But will he?

This should be a slightly difficult (in Volpe's case), yet clear and simple decision for Boone. But when you read what what Boone had to say on the matter on Sunday, you won't exactly be injected with confidence that the skipper is about to do the right thing.

"Cabbie is playing at a really high level," Boone admitted, when asked by New York Daily News' Gary Phillips about who will start. "Obviously, we think very highly of Anthony, too. But those are answers for another day."

Another day? Like, as in, two days from now?

Aaron Boone confuses Yankees fans with non-answer on Anthony Volpe-José Caballero competition

The Yankees began a three-game set on the road against the Texas Rangers on Monday. They have an off day on Thursday, followed by a six-game homestand. Given the reported Volpe timeline, you'd assume he'll rejoin the team for its series against the Baltimore Orioles beginning Friday, but who really knows? Volpe's been known to pop into the dugout at random times.

The point is, Boone's decision must be made this week. Is he going to ride with the hot hand (Caballero) as everyone knows he should, or is Boone going to fall victim once again to the never-ending, mysterious saga of Volpe favoritism that has plagued him and the Yankees for years?

Boone's words on Sunday were far too vague to give birth to any sort of prediction. When he described his "bottom line" on Caballero, he asserted that Cabbie has been at the center of the Yankees' success, while simultaneously saying that this has earned Caballero "a lot of opportunities".

José Caballero doesn't deserve to be displaced by Anthony Volpe

There's only one opportunity that Caballero should be interested in at this point, and that's because he has earned it: Starting shortstop of the New York Yankees. Volpe, on the other hand, has been repeatedly handed the position despite underwhelming play.

Volpe has been solid so far during his minor league rehab stint. Boone said last week that Volpe has experienced "zero" shoulder discomfort for months at this point, an indication that offseason surgery to repair a torn labrum did exactly what it was supposed to do, and that Volpe hasn't suffered any setbacks since.

All of that is great, but it still doesn't change the fact that even a healthy Volpe isn't necessarily better than what Caballero looks like right now. And a rehabbing Volpe who needs a ton more reps to get up to speed certainly isn't, either. As soon as Boone and the Yankees' leadership stop talking about and treating Volpe like he's an established superstar, we'll all start to be a lot less confused.

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