YANKEES CHANCES ARE SLIPPING AWAY

The Yankees remain a roster loaded with talent but handicapped by one glaring weakness — the guy running the dugout. Aaron Boone is less a strategic mastermind and more a self-inflicted obstacle course the team trips over nightly.

Jon Heyman just poured a little salt in the wound, pointing out that the Yankees — with their $300 million payroll — are clinging to a measly half-game lead over the Guardians. Yes, the Guardians: a team with a third of New York’s payroll. If that’s not embarrassing enough, the Yankees’ recent skid has left them 62-55, six and a half games back in the AL East, and losers in six of their last seven. A 5-4 win yesterday barely counts as life support.

Look at Boone's career as manager. He doesn't win. 

And Brian Cashman this year? He basically left the trade deadline with a gift bag containing nothing but pocket lint and excuses.

Even Joe Torre — the man who delivered four World Series titles to the Bronx — is tiptoeing around the truth. Torre said, “I feel for Aaron Boone. I’ve been in that place where you’re trying to rearrange the furniture and hopefully it makes a difference… This club’s too good not to have a run, and there’s still time left.”

Translation: Boone’s not the guy, but Torre’s too classy to say it. Fans aren’t. We’ve seen Boone’s “track record” — overmanaging, ignoring instincts, and somehow choosing the one option that tanks the game. Remember the Nestor Cortes–Freeman debacle? Or bringing in Devin Williams the other night? It’s a constant uphill battle for the players just to overcome his blunders.

This isn’t chemistry, it’s chaos. Not leadership, but manager-loserville.

Sure, the Yankees might stumble into a Wild Card spot. But with Boone steering, it’ll end in the same sad way: an early exit and another round of excuses. The talent is here. The wins could be here. The problem is also here — in the dugout — and until Boone is gone, this team’s ceiling is hitting their heads on it.

Bottom line: fire him.