There is no question the New York Yankees made a number of detrimental decisions that impacted their playoff hopes, well deserving of any harsh criticism.
Manager Aaron Boone punted a few bullpen choices during important games, notably refusing to use Clay Holmes against the Cleveland Guardians in what most would consider an “emergency situation” and pulling Gerrit Cole out of a game in favor of Lou Trivino.
With all the numerical and analytical help the Yankees have invested in over the years, it’s fair to question how successful it has been, given they continue to fall short in their quest to reach the World Series.
Playing the number game is easy, there’s a clear-cut way to go, but that leaves out essential variables. Sometimes a player can get hot at any given moment, and the numbers can’t determine when that will be. Numbers also can’t determine a mental state and measure confidence on a week-by-week basis.
With that being said, relying on them is not a steadfast approach, there needs to be other considerations that play a part.
For example, sports psychologists and how they help develop a player’s confidence on the field. The Yankees undoubtedly have a strange approach toward motivating their players, sending around a highlight video of the 2004 Red Sox, their archrivals, and how they climbed back from an 0–3 deficit in the ALCS.
Normally, sending success videos of your most hated opponent isn’t a motivating factor and is a bit tone-deaf, as Yankees announcer Michael Kay hinted at during a recent rant.
“If I’m the owner of the Yankees, Hal Steinbrenner, I’d be red hot. I’d call Brian Cashman and the FO into a room. I’ve spent more than a billion dollars on analytics and can’t even make a world series. This is unacceptable, there is something wrong here.”
Kay completely demolished Aaron Boone during his legendary rant, picking apart his bullpen decisions and awful management.
“Two of the 4 games you lost because of bullpen mismanagement. . . On a day to day basis you didn’t know who your SS was, your lead off hitter was . . . this is incomprehensible.”
The Yankees have made premature decisions in the past, firing managers and shaking up the front office. However, they refuse to do the same after failing to get to the World Series for the 12th straight season.
“Yankee fans are really angry. You went to the 7th game in 2017 and let Girardi go, but there has been no ramifications to these failures. To continue to do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result in insanity. Something has to change.”
The Yankees need to consider their options in the front office:
In fact, Kay even mentions how general manager Brian Cashman should be on the hot seat after his latest blunders. Trading for Josh Donaldson and Isiah Kiner-Falefa was a net negative, and acquiring Frankie Montas ended up resulting in nothing but injury and inefficiency.
Ultimately, Cashman made more bad moves than positive ones, which resulted in an early exit for the Yankees in the 2022 playoffs. Someone needs to be held accountable at some point, and with Cashman’s contract expiring after this season, it will be interesting to see how owner Hal Steinbrenner approaches the future of this team.