State of the Yankees: Does Aaron Boone Have Any Idea What He's Doing?
Losing to the New York Mets in a game Jacob deGrom pitches in is whatever. I can live with that, but seeing Luis Severino get lit up again was hard to see. Seeing the brainless Yankees manager, who goes by the name Aaron Boone, leaving A.J. Cole in for not one, but two innings is impossible to watch. I was left watching this horse shit of a game last night with a blank stare at the TV screen. What has happened to this club?
Luis Severino was terrible on Monday night, this time facing the AAA lineup that the Mets trot out there. Rosario homered on the fucking first at bat of the game to zap the life right from me. Everyone watching groaned and collectively said “here we go again.” You can actually see me in the background of Barstool Idol today just in shock at the start.
Through two innings Severino was laboring with a pitch count sky high once again. Everything was up, everything was flat, and the Mets teed off. Since July 1st against the Sox, he hasn’t been the same. Not even close to be honest. Sure Severino showed positive signs in Chicago his last start, but he still wasn’t the vintage Severino we’ve grown to love. The Yankees scratched and clawed back to even the game at two a piece in the 3rd, but he coughed it right back up on Bautista’s two run shot in the 4th. It’s impossible to know exactly what is wrong with Severino right now, but I know the man needs a break. He’s mentally and physically exhausted out there. The organization seems to think he can pitch through it, but he’s shown no sign at all that’s going to work.
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I understand CC just landed on the DL with right knee inflammation, but Boone said he’s only expected to miss one start. Cessa likely is going to take his spot. If you put Severino on the DL and had him miss 2 starts you could slot Chance Adams or Justus Sheffield in there no problem and get Luis’ mind right. It’s August 14th, you can only do this for a little while longer before we’re in too deep. Right now the division race is over and the Wild Card cushion, for now, is decent. Skipping his spot a few times, when he’s losing anyways, won’t hurt this team too much. The fact that we’re completely unsure of who is pitching that Wild Card game instead of being confident in giving the ball to our bulldog is absolutely terrifying. Do you really want to give it to Tanaka and his propensity to give up the long ball at a moments notice? After that it’s CC, Lynn, and Happ. Now it’s not that I don’t have confidence in any of those guys, but the answer to that question should be a definitive Severino and right now it’s not.
As for Boone, I understand he has little to no say in roster moves. He probably has little to no say in lineups. But one thing he does have say in is the bullpen. When it comes to the one thing he has control over, he’s a complete fucking disaster. On Sunday, Sonny Gray and Holder combined to finish off CC’s marvelous performance and saved the rest of the pen for a game like last night. That meant mostly everyone was fresh coming into today. So Chad Green goes one inning after Severino’s night was over. Could have gone another probably, but whatever that’s fine I guess. He goes to the struggling A.J. Cole. in the 6th who immediately gives up a Todd Frazier homer in a one run game. Great. Cole finishes the inning. After the Yankees didn’t score and this game completely still in reach, Boone sends Cole out for an inexplicable second inning. ANOTHER INNING! Robertson was perfectly capable of going there. What does he do? Gives up a solo shot to Nimmo. Was that enough for Boone to realize Cole didn’t have it? Nope. Conforto then homers to give the Mets a 7-3 lead. Unbelievable. How do you leave A.J. Cole in long enough to give up three bombs? How can you not see with your own two eyes that he was throwing absolutely nothing out there? It’s honestly insane how dumb of a manager he is. Sure you can blame bullpen mismanagement on a first year manager for his last of experience, but even my mother could have seen Cole had to be out of that game after the 6th. Boone does this regularly and it’s mind-bottling. He has no concept of when to take out a guy. None. Girardi was the opposite and would try to get too cute and bring people in for one batter at a time, but at least it wasn’t this bullshit.
You can tell me the Yankees have one of the best bullpens ever assembled all you want, but what does it even matter if the guy calling the shots doesn’t know how to use it. Give a guy the biggest dick in the world, he’s not going to be able to please a smoke show if he doesn’t know how to fuck.
The Yankees are 74-44 and I’m willing to believe they’d have that record with anyone as their manager. We’re the worst 30 wins over .500 team in baseball history. You look at this team right now and you think they’re going to get curb stomped in the Wild Card game whether it’s against Oakland, Seattle, or God Forbid Houston. People say I complain a lot, but how can you feel good about what you’re looking at on the field right now? The bullpen is in shambles besides Dellin Betances. Severino is a disaster. CC is on the DL. Tanaka is fine. The two most consistent starting pitcher are men we just acquired. Gleyber Torres can’t hit a baseball anymore. Greg Bird is pretty much useless. Shane Robinson gets playing time. Who knows what kind of player Aaron Judge will be when he gets back from his wrist injury. Gary Sanchez who the fuck knows? Did I miss anything? Read this paragraph back to yourself and tell me where we are a World Series contender. Go watch the Oakland A’s play baseball and tell me we can hang with them and beat them in a do or die game. There is time to fix this and get hot going into October for sure and I think they will do that, but time is running out.