I realize that we are entering the final game of the three-game series against the Milwaukee Brewers. And you are not defined by one game. But I am not over Friday night's absolute nightmare. Let's start with, that game was winnable. Secondly, we had the offense and the upper hand the whole game. Thirdly, Aaron Boone has not learned how to manage pitchers. Yes, blundering Boone blows it again and I am not over it yet.
According to the New York Post, "On a night when Luis Gil lasted just five innings, the Yankees (17-10) already had used four relievers to get to the 10th inning, including Clay Holmes throwing a 10-pitch bottom of the ninth. Before Friday, the closer had last pitched on Tuesday, but manager Aaron Boone said he was not going to use Holmes for a second inning given his heavy early-season workload and injuries elsewhere in the bullpen."
So what does Boone do? He brings in a guy who has been DFA'd three times this season, Michael Tonkin. Tonkin came into the game looking completely confused. Like where am I now? He started the season with the New York Mets, who DFA'd him, went to the Minnesota Twins, who also DFA'd him, and went back to the Mets, who you guessed it, DFA'd him. So yeah, he likely was like, I am in an extra inning game with the Yankees against the Brewers and, go! And he went, right down the toilet, giving up the tying run after the Yankees took a one-run lead in the top of the 10th. The Brewers walked it off on him in the 11th for a 7-6 win.
I grew up in a time when Goose Gossage was your closer and he pitched multiple innings to do his job as a closer. So, I get really impatient with Boone who thinks his closer can't go more than 10 pitches because he might get hurt. It is April. And he has not even pitched much in the last week. Boone gave that game away. And it is just so ridiculous.
“Definitely a tough spot,” Boone said. “But he’s (Tonkin) got a lot of experience. I thought he threw the ball well and didn’t back down at all. That’s just where we were in the game of what we had left. Not the softest landing, for sure, but thought he came in and got after it,” reported The Post. How about, whoops I made a mistake or something a little smoother than that?
Bottom line: the Yankees can't afford to lose games like this. And the fact that Boone has learned nothing from his mismanagement of pitching over the last few years is concerning. He remains a buffoon in my book. And I just can't stand it.
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--Suzie Pinstripe
BYB Senior Managing Editor
Twitter: @suzieprof
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