If the New York Yankees had won Friday night’s game in Miami, in which they held leads of 6-0, 9-4, and 12-10 in the ninth, perhaps they’d be a playoff team.
If the New York Yankees had won Monday night’s game in Texas, in which the newly assembled Super Bullpen carefully transported a one-run lead to Devin Williams in the ninth, perhaps they’d be a playoff team.
And if the New York Yankees had won their third series opener in a row on Friday night in the Bronx against the Astros after a dextrous mid-game comeback, they’d probably be surging forward, threatening the AL’s best.
They lost all three. In the first game, each and every trade deadline addition failed under the spotlight, lending a degree of cosmic inevitability to the massacre. In the second, Boone chose Williams despite having imported a pair of high-upside closers. He showed faith in his man. It failed spectacularly. Both losses were disgusting, but defensible.
Given the chance to turn over a new leaf, Boone chose Williams again in a scoreless tie the very next night. The decision was first-guessed and instantly maligned. Williams allowed two runs after loading the bases with two walks. It was universally agreed upon as the end of the Airbender’s time in high-leverage, at least until he could be adequately reset.
On Friday night, in the third season-ender in a week, Boone chose Williams to pitch the most important inning of the season, the 10th inning with the Ghost Runner against the heart of the Astros order. Some moves can be scrutinized by skeptics. Some can be second-guessed by emotional casuals. Absolutely nobody but Boone fell on the side he chose in this game. Using Williams, with Mark Leiter Jr., Tim Hill, and Brent Headrick as fresh as can be – after an off day – was insulting to the point it felt as if Boone was intentionally trying to give away his job.
Yankees’ Aaron Boone made indefensible, insulting choice using Devin Williams vs. Astros
Overreaction? No. Boone does not have the right to hold power and sway over this fan base’s collective blood, sweat and tears if the decisions he makes with that authority are going to be this tow-headed. There is not a person on earth besides the man who was empowered to choose who believes he made the correct call.
There was an opportunity for the Yankees to turn lemons into lemonade, see the light, and make Texas their rock bottom after escaping on the heels of David Bednar’s 42-pitch save on Wednesday afternoon. It took just one game for all good will earned there to be expunged, as has been the case so often in this decrepit season.
And at the helm, there’s Boone, getting wing sauce on Lou Gehrig’s jersey and dragging the World Series trophy around the parking lot while doing donuts. There is no more reason to believe. There is no more reason to care. Until he is gone.
Which, based on the way Friday played out, simply must be what he wants, too.
