BOONE DOGGLE
Constant parade of relievers helps end Yanks' season
NOT THAT Aaron Boone any longer owed us an explanation or further proof of his fantasy-based managerial philosophy — he has made that abundantly clear since 2018, when he first removed an effective reliever for one hopefully as effective — but Tuesday night in Boston, he provided a show and tell.
In the top of the fourth inning of the AL wild-card game, after he had removed starter Gerrit Cole in the bottom of the third following a wobbly session, he explained it, from the Yankees’ dugout, to ESPN: “We’re set up, back there.” By now we know what he meant: Boone had all his relief pitchers lined up in a row — bullpen as tarmac — ready to enter, as per Boone’s pregame scripted schedule, regardless of outcome or common sense.
Boone, again, was going to manage by wish, hope and a recipe torn from the Betty Crocker Cookbook of Needless Kitchen Disasters & Other Regrets.
The here-and-now of what he saw from his pitchers, were ignored again on that night — the biggest game of the season. He again figured they’d all be at the tops of their games, upon request, even if the mere notion is preposterous.
Spread-sheet analytics may work for robots, refrigerators and rubber baby buggy bumpers, but not for pitchers or, as he has yet to discover, Aaron Boone.
So in a game that became the Yankees’ last of the season, the relievers came marching in (and out) until a 3-0 deficit became a 6-2 au revoir.
Clay Holmes, Boone’s best reliever the second half of the season, again was removed too early, as if Boone were saving him for a big game. He’d thrown just 16 pitches, allowing one hit and no walks over two innings.
With a DH, there was no sensible reason to pull Holmes, despite Boone’s claim that, “We’re all set up, back there.”
What about right here, during a win-or-bust playoff game? Holmes corked the Red Sox for two innings. Boston had to be thrilled Boone yanked him for no apparent good reason.
Boone’s next three “we’re all set up, back there” relievers allowed three runs and five walks in four innings.
But why am I wasting time and space telling you? You’ve seen it over and over for years, and not just from Boone. It persists throughout MLB in total defiance of common sense.
For about 10 years, games have been contested to determine which manager will find the reliever or relievers to blow the game. It’s nuts, absolutely crazy, but what do I know about baseball?