With the AL East race heating up, both the Blue Jays and Yankees are locked at 93-68, and that’s enough to guess how the margin for error is razor-thin. Every game feels like it could tip the balance of the division. And considering how the Yankees manager, Aaron Boone, stays involved in the game from the dugout, we can imagine his antics now when everything is at stake. Just a wrong call by the umpire and you’ll see Boone at the plate leading the fight…
The result? The Yankees’ skipper has been tossed out of games more than a few times this season, a sign of just how tightly wound he’s been in these high-pressure moments. And on Saturday, against the Orioles in the second game of the series, that intensity was on full display again. The Yankees pushed hard, sometimes a little too hard. But ultimately came away with a commanding 6-1 win, not without a touch of drama along the way.
“I didn’t even boil over. There’s no way I should’ve been kicked out there,” Boone shared his frustration after the game, owing to his seventh ejection this season, most among big league managers, and the 46th time in his managing career. “There were a couple of calls early, but once again, a real quick hook. Fortunately, it didn’t impact anything, and we’re able to tag on.”
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The story began at the bottom of the 5th inning with Aaron Judge at home plate. Umpire Ramon De Jesus made a wrong call on consecutive pitches to Judge, and the replay shows the pitch was beyond the box. That was enough for Boone to lose his cool. He started arguing from the dugout before storming out to the plate to make his case. Things got heated quickly, and it wasn’t long before Boone was ejected and headed for the clubhouse.
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If you remember, the seven times Boone got ejected this season were mainly due to him calling out the umpires for bad calls. But this time, is it justified to eject him, or did Boone cross the line? “These are important games, and this is an important at-bat. If you’re Ramon De Jesus, you gotta realize that. You just missed two pitches. We should throw you out,” Yankees broadcaster Paul O’Neill shared how the umpires should take responsibility for blown-up calls.
Whether it’s blown calls or the Yankees’ star players not performing, the truth remains that Aaron Boone finds himself in a complicated situation.
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Aaron Boone is still not in safe territory
Safe territory? No, we are not talking about Boone’s frequent ejections this year, but about the hot seat he is sitting on. “If indeed (the Yankees) get knocked out early … I’m not even sure … (Boone) would get fired,” MLB insider Ken Rosenthal said.
Well, when you are managing the Yankees, you know what a winning culture defines. Either you win or bust, and as per Rosenthal, if the Yankees couldn’t go deep in the postseason this year, Boone’s job security might be on the line. Why? Since 2009, there’s been no ring in the Yankees’ clubhouse. Since managing the team in 2018, he has also failed to achieve any.
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However, the Yankees have secured a postseason berth, but still slipping off early from the playoffs would again bring back the firing calls. “If they get knocked out in the first round, will the question be raised? I’m sure it’ll be raised,” Rosenthal added.
Yes, Boone signed a two-year contract extension through the 2027 season, but he knows how secure the Yankees’ managerial jobs are. And hence, putting everything on the line, as we are seeing on the field. Let’s now see how it goes for the Yankees in October, and if Aaron Boone’s overenthusiasm comes in handy for the team.