WHO’S UP FIRST?
Mets’ comedy continues: Bat out of order, lose in 10th WHAT? NO, HE’S UP SECOND HUH? I DON’T KNOW HE JUST GOT TRADED
Aaron Boone emerged seemingly out of nowhere to become skipper of the Yankees — a gutsy pick by Brian Cashman and Co. given that he’d never managed or even coached at any level before.
But after a growing-pain filled start, Boone — the fourth of six candidates to interview for the job — has proven to be a home run hire so far, with the Yanks holding the best record in baseball.
Even after the Bombers were 7.5 games behind the Red Sox in the AL East on April 20, Boone remained unfazed. And these days, he can do no wrong — with his players picking up their rookie manager even when he makes a questionable decision.
Boone’s Yankees started 9-9 — early adversity for a team riddled with injuries — but they’ve gone 17-1 ever since, making him look really good in the process.
On Wednesday night, the Bombers moved into sole possession of first place in the division for the first time this season — 9-6 come-from-behind winners over Boston in a wild affair and winners of eight straight overall.
Boone, the 2003 ALCS hero, always seems to walk around with his cap kind of resting on his head, a fungo bat or a glove accompanying him everywhere he goes. He
can frequently be found watching batting practice behind the cage, studying his players’ swings intently.
Boone never singles any of his players out in criticism — instead occasionally criticizing them in a general sense as a whole. He often greets reporters with “good afternoon” in a Bob Sheppard-like accent.
He often says players are close to breaking out of slumps even when it doesn’t look that way at all — a potential confidence-booster for them.
The Yankees were tested on Wednesday night, down 6-5 heading into the eighth inning. That’s when they came alive yet again, their never-say-die mentality turning Yankee Stadium upside down with a four-run frame.
Brett Gardner, whom Boone wouldn’t consider moving out of the leadoff spot despite his .198 batting average coming in, rocked a go-ahead, two-run triple off flame-throwing closer Craig Kimbrel with one out — capping a three extra-base hit night.
And Judge followed with a 429foot, two-run homer to center, giving the Bombers plenty of cushion, a brilliant rally that had this place rocking like it was October.
“I just love the way our guys compete in the toughest of moments, when there’s a lot on the line,” Boone said. “They really lock in.”
It feels like the last time Boone was really under fire was opening weekend in Toronto, when David Robertson gave up a grand slam to Justin Smoak after the skipper elected to intentionally walk banged-up Josh Donaldson to load the bases. Otherwise, aside from an admitted failure to challenge an ump’s blown call in Anaheim — when Giancarlo Stanton was doubled off second despite having properly tagged up on a fly ball — some blips using his bullpen, reluctance about utilizing personal catchers and occasional sloppy defense, there hasn’t been much to nitpick. On the other side of town, though, Mickey Callaway is going through some serious turmoil after his Mets got off to an 11-1 start.
Callaway committed a massive managerial blunder on Wednesday afternoon, when his team batted out of order in the first inning and eventually lost by only a run.
Boone could certainly empathize with his fellow rookie skipper over in Queens.
“It’s one of the things I’m paranoid about every single day,” Boone said. “We have about eight layers that we go through to make sure that something like that hopefully doesn’t happen to us, but I certainly understand how it could.”
Boone had his own faux pas during the spring when he forgot to warm up a reliever while on TV with the YES Network, forcing Dellin Betances to go back into the
game and pitch to one
more hitter. But that was when the games didn’t count in the standings.
In truth, we’ll find out a lot more about both skippers as the season progresses, but so far adversity hasn’t gotten the best of Boone.
Boone has come as advertised, collaborating with the front office and embracing analytics, while sticking with and encouraging his players in both good times and bad.
Boone, he can at his though, still craft. get a lot thinks better
way “I feel to go there’s in that a long regard,” he said.
The Yankees are on a roll, all alone at the top of the division standings. Yet, with 126 games left, adversity is likely to hit again.
But Aaron Boone’s early tenure as manager suggests he’ll be able to handle it just fine.