BOONE SENDS DOWN BIRD, BUT NOT VOLPE? NOTHING WEIRD ABOUT THAT

The Yankees managed to implode again, and guess what? Aaron Boone—our baseball-life coach in a hoodie—found a way to deflect the blame faster than a checked swing on a full count. This time, the fall guy is Jake Bird, who got shipped to Triple-A like he was caught shoplifting sunflower seeds. This guy was with Colorado since he was called up in 2022, but now suddenly he needs to disappear, for something, dare I say that was not his fault.

Let’s get something straight: Devin Williams should never have been on that mound in the ninth last night. Everyone with eyes, ears, or the ability to yell at a TV knew that David Bednar should’ve been the guy. He’s an actual closer. You know, the kind who doesn’t require a therapy dog every time the Bronx gets loud.

Bednar isn’t just some throw-in bullpen arm—he’s a beast. He had 17 saves this year for the Pirates, posted a 2.37 ERA, and struck out 51 guys in 38 innings. That’s elite closer stuff. That’s "give the Yankees a damn win for once" stuff. And Boone... said, “Nah, let’s try the Brewers guy.”

Devin Williams is talented, sure. He’s got the NL Reliever of the Year trophy from his Brewers days and a changeup that looks like it’s breaking the laws of physics. But closing in Milwaukee is not the same as closing in the Bronx. Let’s not act like the pressure’s even remotely the same. Yankees fans throw verbal bricks. You need a backbone made of tungsten, not tofu.

Instead, Boone chose Williams, who promptly coughed it up. Then Jake Bird came in and that went about as well as giving Boone a clipboard and a pencil and asking him to manage a bullpen. Bird got torched. Yes, but you know what? He shouldn't have been in that spot to begin with. Blame the manager, not the mop-up guy.

But nah, Boone couldn’t take the heat. So what does he do? Sends Bird down the next morning. Real classy. Real leadership. Hey Jake, thanks for being a warm body in a no-win situation—now enjoy Scranton.

Bird has four years of MLB experience and a serviceable track record. He was thrown into a fire because Boone’s closer roulette landed on “flaming wreckage,” and now he’s the scapegoat. Meanwhile, certain players in Boone’s clubhouse get the velvet rope treatment no matter how often they soil the pinstripes.

Enter Anthony Volpe, stage left, batting .219 and still treated like Derek Jeter’s long-lost godson. Boone continues to coddle him like a toddler learning to ride a bike. At this point, if Volpe tripped over first base, Boone would call it “grit.” The dude's numbers are comparable to Pete Gray, and Pete had one arm. But Volpe? He plays every day. Why? Because Boone has decided he's untouchable. Same with Austin Wells. It’s like Boone thinks they're part of his Build-A-Player workshop and no one’s allowed to question their progress. What's next, a threesome of watching Boone's homer of the insignificant 2003 ALCS with wax on their nipples? I'm being dramatic and graphic, but let's keep it real... there is a double standard, and it is fucking weird.

But Jake Bird? Boom. Gone.

And the kicker? Boone is now today waffling on Devin Williams' closer status. You can't make this up. "We’ll do what we need to do,” Boone said, adding, “I got to make decisions that are trying to put guys in the best position to be successful to win a ball game.”  

Buddy, you did the opposite of that. Everyone screaming from the upper decks knew Williams wasn’t the guy. Bednar was ready, Doval is an option with 15 saves and a 3.09 ERA—but no, Boone had to flex his genius again and then flush the blame down to Triple-A.

So what now? Boone gets to keep babysitting his precious prospects while hard-working vets like Bird get kicked to the curb. And fans are supposed to keep eating this garbage sandwich and pretend it's a rebuild?  Wrong move. Wrong guy. Wrong manager.

At this point, the Yankees don't just need wins. They need accountability, and it has to start at the top. Boone doesn’t get to keep playing favorites and dodging blame like a slippery Little League coach who won’t bench his son.

Jake Bird isn’t the problem.

Boone is.

Do better, or kindly pack up your sunflower seeds and hit the road. Preferably before the next good arm gets thrown under the bus.