For Yankees fans, frustration has become a regular emotion. What could have been a vital win against the Twins turned into yet another head-scratcher. Cam Schlitter was rolling — five innings of sharp work, only one run allowed, and 86 pitches in the tank. Most managers would have allowed the star to push into the sixth; however, Aaron Boone pulled Cam Schlitter in a move that looked less like an approach and more like sabotage. Enter Yerry De Los Santos, the only reliever in the Yankees who had pitched the day before. The outcome? Three runs were given up without recording a single out. Just like that, a must-win game slipped away.
However, this is where it really gets messy. Instead of facing the music, Boone shifted the interaction postgame. Suddenly, the focus was on Paul Goldschmidt’s knee injury — news that conveniently popped up right when concerns related to the bullpen disaster were bound to surface. Sure, the injury was real; however, the timing made fans and insiders think it was less related to transparency and more related to distraction. As one Locked On Yankees host said, Aaron Boone deflected with, “Oh yeah, our first baseman’s hurt. So thank you for that.” A clever trick? Could be. However, it also came off as a desperate move of the manager scrambling to save face.
However, the issue is that this is not just related to one bad decision and one awkward press conference — it is related to Boone’s job security as a whole. Insiders are already questioning whether the team can afford to stick with Boone if things keep sliding. Emmanuel Berbari from WFAN stated perfectly: “I wouldn’t say he’s safe if they miss the postseason.” So yes, that is the reality. The Yankees have too much talent, enough money on the line, and too much pride to keep letting the season unravel. If the team falls short in October, the manager could very well pay the price.
Berbari went further, laying out the larger picture of how the team views such a collapse. He reminded fans that the Yankees began powerfully with a 3-0 start in March, only to spiral downward after being swept by the Red Sox in mid-June. Since then, the team has a 65-57 record, despite boasting a roster that is elite compared to the weaker 2023 team. With Gerrit Cole and Clarke Schmidt sidelined, Berbari argued, there is still enough pitching and a deep bullpen to contend. Missing the postseason in an extended playoff format after making aggressive deadline moves, the insider said, would raise serious eyebrows in the management. While not guaranteeing Aaron Boone’s exit, Berbari made one thing clear: this season, unlike in the past, the leash is much shorter.
Credit: Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
While the manager’s future looms as a shadow over the season, the team has also found rare moments of hope. Such a bright spot comes from the field, where Max Fried’s milestone has brought a reminder of what stability can mean for this team.
Max Fried’s milestone and what it means for the Yankees’ future
Max Fried’s current achievement — a rare mix of 970 strikeouts and 118 team wins in his first 175 career starts — places the star alongside Dwight Gooden and Johan Santana in modern baseball history. For the team, such consistency is priceless. In a season defined by ups and downs, Fried highlights what this rotation has desperately needed: a pitcher who not only provides strikeouts but also keeps the team in position to win. The star’s mix of control, durability, and effectiveness marks Fried as more than a contributor—it makes Fried the type of star that championship teams are built around.
Equally vital is what this milestone signals related to the Yankees’ direction. While Aaron Boone’s strategies and the team’s inconsistency have drawn criticism, Max Fried’s performance highlights the value of pitching as the true base for success. Being compared with Gooden and Santana does not just highlight Fried’s dominance—it highlights that the team could finally have a cornerstone in their rotation. In a team that has long celebrated power hitters and dramatic playoff moments, Fried provides something distinctive: stability, and in this season where stability has been scarce, that could be the Yankees’ most valuable asset moving forward.
Jun 22, 2024; Bronx, New York, USA; New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone (17) walks off the field after being ejected in the seventh inning against the Atlanta Braves at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-USA TODAY Sports
The Yankees face a vital crossroads, with Aaron Boone’s possible exit symbolizing more than just a managerial transformation—it highlights the team’s inability to reclaim its once-unshakable identity. Whether management makes the leap and holds steady, the decisions ahead will define not only this season, the future direction of the team.
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