BLAME BOONE, NOT HOLMES

When you are in a situation because your manager makes the decision, it's kind of hard to look at the guy who gave up the walk-off and blame him when the decisions the manager made before. Ultimately that really was the reason why the Yankees lost. It wasn't Holmes and the walk off... it was the fact that Boone's obsession is Luke Weaver.

Look, I've been weary of the Weaver lovefest for a few weeks now. I think the guy can be lights out, but I also believe that when that happens, the media, the manager becomes obsessed.  Last night was a perfect example of Aaron Boone using Luke Weaver too much.  There's a lot of guys we could have gone too, but it's my feeling that if you continually use the same guys... day in and day out, sooner or later the opponent will get to them.  Weaver is not Mariano Rivera. I know the media and Boone want everyone to believe he's on his way, but I'm here to tell you that we have some time for that.  Last night, in my opinion was a clear case of making the wrong choice and then when Clay Holmes allows the walk off, ya'll want to blame this guy instead. 

Blame Boone, Blame Luke Weaver. Hell, blame Anthony Rizzo for the error, but in the end, you can't blame Clay Holmes.

Fansided writes:

"...on Thursday, Weaver struggled. While he did get out of a jam in the bottom of the eighth inning, the ninth inning was a whole other story. Weaver watched Ramirez reach on a fielding error by Anthony Rizzo, but forced Josh Naylor to ground into a double play. Just one more out, and the Yankees would take a 3-0 series lead. But Weaver caved.

Weaver surrendered a hard-hit double off the center field wall. Guardians manager Stephen Vogt called upon Jhonkensy Noel to pinch hit for Daniel Schneemann. Weaver ended up surrendering a pitch that Noel sent careening deep into the left field stands to tie the game up 5-5.

Weaver had a bad outing at the worst possible time."

To me, it's a clear case of inexperience on all counts... for Weaver who is now trotted out there even when we don't need him (like Game 2) and yesterday.  And you gotta look at Boone and suggest this guy, while he's been making the right choices as of late, made a horrible decision leading to the loss last night. Inexperience. 

Now Holmes is just happy to be there and play.  He's been called on, he's been doing whatever is asked of him and he's been terrific in that role, and he deserves a ton of credit, but last night he was "set up", plain and simple.  He was in a tough spot last night, but a spot he inherited.  

However we want to interpret this loss, there's one thing that's the most important.  The Yankees have to come back tonight and win.  Whatever happened is over.  Yanks gotta turn it around today. 

Let me end this by stating that I'm a Weaver guy. I love stories like this. I just don't get wrapped up in it too early with too much on the line.   Wheeling Weaver out there wasn't Boone strategizing, it was him taking the easy way out and to be honest, it was the first bad decision he's made all post season.  And so now, in his thirst and desperation he will most likely get the best of him and Boone will panic and do something ridiculous like put Weaver out there in a tough spot tonight "to redeem himself" and "build his confidence" when what Boone should really be doing is trying to win the game.   Team first Boone, not friend first... you're not their therapist.

Let's hope the Yanks can turn this around and didn't wake up the Indians.  We don't need that.  What we need is to win, to go the World Series and compete against the Dodgers.  That's what we want.

Bad loss, but today's a new day!

Go Yanks!