BRONX BUFFOON

Source: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

I had you at the headline, right?  After the last couple of days I could be talking about any of the Yankees or all of them.  The blunders we have witnessed both on the field and at bat are simply inexcusable.  The Yankees look like buffoons but there is really one lead candidate for the position.

Source: NY Times

Is it Gleyber Torres? His blunder covering third in last night's game or his forgetfulness in touching second base again and getting called out after a fly out over the weekend hurt the Yankees.  How about Brett Gardner looking at a bunt, thinking it was foul and failing to run it out, killing a rally.  I could be talking about Greg Bird failing to cover first base and letting what would be the winning run cross the plate in Monday's game.  Yes these are just a few of the blunders that could warrant the title Bronx Buffoon.

Source: Julie Jacobson/Associated Press

There is only one real leader for this title and it is Aaron Boone, truly the Buffoon of the Bronx and perhaps baseball.  "Boone flew blind in his rookie season as skipper, which provided him with a soft landing at times when his decision making skills were either slow or nonexistent. Now that Boone has a year under his belt, expectations for him will be elevated, and the safety net will be removed," reported SNY.com.  Put the safety net back on, he is still not ready.  He still can't seem to manage his bullpen and I like many others were still confused why he took the ball from Masahiro Tanaka after only 78 pitches.  Sure, he got into some trouble but he only gave up three hits and one earned run in 6 innings. I believe he had more to give, but the buffoon thought otherwise.

“[Tanaka] worked pretty hard in the fourth. We were pretty convicted that was it and set up there to roll out Britton there, and obviously [Ottavino] with their righties at the top of the order and then [Chapman],’’ Boone said. “So it set up pretty well for us,’’reported the NY Post.  Not the outcome we were looking for, Boonie.  And weren't you the same guy that left in Jonathan Holder for two plus innings and more than 30 pitches before he got into trouble in Baltimore and caused more damage than good?

Fans are certainly not tight lipped when it comes to their skipper.  Read through #AaronBoone on Twitter and see the banter each night; very entertaining.  But what's not entertaining: giving up experience for public relations. "The mantra reflects not only Boone’s innate sunniness, but also an underlying shift in the role of the major league manager: The job no longer prioritizes strategy from the dugout. The era of making moves based on a hunch are long gone — the analytics department has already determined the probability of success for every decision — leaving the manager’s ability to motivate and connect with his players a top priority," according to the New York Times.

Source: BARRETT SPORTS MEDIA

Machines and numbers are only part of the process.  The rest has to come from know-how, experience and yes, hunches based on both.  Boone may have come from a legacy of ball players, being one himself, but he certainly is not a quick study at manager and could use more mentoring from veteran guys who have coached and managed winning ball clubs for years.  His 16-month tenure at manager leaves a lot to be desired and his inability to manage his bull pen, lauded as the best in the game, is just painful to watch.  He also needs to teach baseball fundamentals because these ridiculous errors in the field are costing the Yankees big.

For the now the title of Bronx Buffoon goes to Boone but perhaps there is hope for the future.  I would really like to ask him what he did in the off season to study baseball management and who he worked with to learn and grow in the art of leading a ball club.  His long lipped explanations, confusing statements and public relations-like post game conversations are just ridiculous.  Spit less seeds and blow less bubbles and be a manager who does more than lift his players; better understand how to use their talents to win ball games and help them grow.

--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof