By Jordan Long
The New York Yankees were swept in the American League Championship Series (ALCS) by the Houston Astros. New York was outscored 18-9 in the series. Despite the poor showing in the ALCS, New York is going to bring back Manager Aaron Boone.
Boone has been the Yankees’ Manager since 2018 taking over for Joe Girardi. Girardi was very successful when he was in New York. He was the Yankees’ Manager from 2008 to 2017. In that time the Yankees finished with an overall record of 910-710, a winning percentage of .562. The Yankees earned a playoff spot 6 times including winning the World Series in 2009.
In most franchises that would be enough to keep their manager but not in New York. The Yankees judge a season on if they win a World Series or not. It only happened once under Girardi, 2009. The Yankees let Girardi go following 2017 when they were knocked out in the ALCS.
Boone didn’t have any managerial experience when the Yankees hired him. Boone’s main knowledge of the game was playing MLB baseball from 1997 to 2009. He missed all of 2004 because he tore his ACL playing pickup basketball. His stops included Cincinnati, New York, Cleveland, Florida, Washington, and Houston. The Yankees were familiar with him since he played for the organization in 2003.
Boone has been successful as manager of the Yankees. The team has gone 427-281 a winning percentage of .603 under Boone. The Yankees have earned a playoff spot every single year. The problem has been the Yankees haven’t advanced past the ALCS with him as Manager. 2019 and this year, the Yankees were beaten in the ALCS.
Once the last out was recorded against the Houston Astros, rumors were swirling about Boone’s job security. The Yankees are not going to fire him and he is going to be back next year. According to ESPN.com, Yankees’ Owner Hal Steinbrenner said, “As far as Boone’s concerned, we just signed him, and for all the same reasons I listed a year ago, I believe he is a very good manager, I don’t see a change there.”
Boone should have another year. Sure this was a disappointing loss to the Houston Astros. The Yankees never could get the timely hit to score runs. That is a credit to the Houston Astros’ pitching staff. Boone is lucky that he is coming back to manage the team. Next year though, Boone must win the American Leauge Pennant. If they fall short, the Yankees may not bring him back.
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