The New York Yankees magic number is now at one, so, with that being said, who deserves the most credit for New York’s success?
Surpassing their win total from last year seems inevitable. Sitting at 99-53, the Yankees are tied for the best record in baseball along with the Houston Astros. If they keep winning, the likelihood of home-field advantage throughout the entirety of the playoffs would be humongous for this organization. As we reflect on this outstanding season, who deserves the most credit?
As we look into the possible players the obvious standout, DJ LeMahieu, Gleyber Torres, Gio Urshela, etc. However, while all these players deserve their fair share of accolades, the likely A.L. Manager of the Year Aaron Boone deserves the nod.
It wasn’t so long ago when many people discredited and shamed Boone for his bullpen and lineup decisions. While the organization overall relies heavily on analytics, Boone has done a masterful job tinkering the lineup to maximize certain player’s abilities. While the bullpen has been overwhelming hitters all year, it helps that Boone puts them in the right situations to succeed. Not designating Ottavino to a specific inning early on has really helped this ball club escape jams over the course of the season.
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Having to deal with the injury bug is normal for every sport. Knowing how many injuries have had and to be firmly in first place in not only the division but in the entire league, it shows the patience and comradery this team has. Boone has been the catalyst as he has been able to mold a clubhouse that has great admiration for their peers and staff members. Cashman’s hire of Boone was mostly seen as a manager who can handle the media and engage with the players in a positive manner. So far, he has been as good as advertised and has established relationships with the star players on the team.
For all of the flaws Boone had in year one, no one acknowledged it was his first year in coaching anything. He took a team that lost Aaron Judge most of the second half and catapulted them to a 100-62 record and ALDS appearance. This year, we as fans expect more and so does Boone. I have faith in his leadership and past failures to produce number 28 for the New