We’re only two games into the 2025 Wild Card Series, and Yankees skipper Aaron Boone is already catching plenty of heat for his calls. And the reason lies in Game 1. Reportedly, Boone pulled Max Fried after 6 1/3 strong innings and 102 pitches, turning things over to Luke Weaver. And Weaver immediately gave up two runs to the Red Sox, and Boston never looked back.
“I definitely exerted a lot of energy trying to get out of that, but I had more left in the tank for whatever the team needed,” Fried didn’t hide his frustration over his snub. But that seemed not enough for Boone, as in Game 2, he raised eyebrows again. This time, by benching Jazz Chisholm. And of course, Chisholm being Chisholm, he didn’t just take it quietly. He made his feelings known, fueling chatter about a possible rift.
So, is there really bad blood? Well, Chisholm himself has already spoken up about it. “There was never a problem between me and Aaron Boone. He’s been my manager all year, and I’ve stood behind him all year,” Chisholm remarked.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Looks like things have smoothed over between Jazz Chisholm and Aaron Boone, and guess what, the numbers back it up. Notably, Chisholm went 0-for-3 at the plate in Game 2, but he came up huge in other ways! He scored the winning run from first in the eighth inning. So yeah, that’s team-first baseball, and it shows he gets where Boone is coming from with his decisions.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
“We always have disagreements – I mean, I played third base this year, and we had a little bit of a disagreement in that – but at the end of the day, I always stand with Boonie because he understands where I come from. He knows I’m a passionate player, and he knows I wear my feelings on my sleeve. He knows that I’m here to compete,” Chisholm added.
The payoff? Boone confirmed Chisholm will be back in the lineup for Game 3. And as for all those fiery emotions? Boone brushed it off, saying, “I don’t need him to put a happy face on it right now.” In other words, the passion is part of the package, and Chisholm delivered. No bad blood here, just business as usual, kind of like Aaron Judge doing what he does best in clutch moments.
Read Top Stories First From EssentiallySports
Click here and check box next to EssentiallySports
Aaron Boone is betting more on defense
Yes, it was the offensive heroics that made the day in Game 2, but Aaron Boone, it’s their defense that deserves all the credit. “I thought our defense tonight was really, really good,” Boone opened up after the second game.
Well, in Game 2, the Yankees didn’t just avoid errors, but they turned pressure into opportunity with sharp double plays. For example, in the sixth inning, Carlos Rodon was in a jam. But the infield rolled up a double play to get him out of it, flipping the momentum.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
So, although the Yankees’ defense wasn’t flashy, it was efficient. And it gave the Yankees both momentum and confidence heading into Thursday’s decisive Game 3 in the Bronx. And now with rookie Cam Schlittler set to make the biggest start of his young career, the Yankees know they don’t need heroics every inning.
What they need is another all-around effort, smart defense, timely execution, and the discipline to avoid the mistakes that doomed them earlier.