Aaron Boone’s managerial decisions are under scrutiny following a frustrating 9-1 loss by the New York Yankees to the Tampa Bay Rays. Despite Nestor Cortes’ struggles on the mound, the Yankees’ offense managed just one run on five hits, highlighting their dependency on star players Juan Soto and Aaron Judge, who combined for only one hit in six at-bats.
The offensive struggles extend to veterans like Alex Verdugo, Gleyber Torres, and especially DJ LeMahieu. While playing Verdugo and Torres is understandable given their past productivity, LeMahieu’s continued presence in the lineup is baffling. He hasn’t been himself since 2020, yet Boone persists in starting him regularly, much to the fans’ frustration.
Boone insists that LeMahieu has earned his spot and needs opportunities to regain his form, despite his dismal .182/.275/.207 slash line and lack of home runs in 38 games. LeMahieu’s recent performance, including being hitless in his last 17 plate appearances, underscores his struggles.
Boone’s defense of LeMahieu, citing his “great swing” and mental challenges, seems misguided. LeMahieu’s ground ball rate of 58.4 percent is alarmingly high, and he has only three extra-base hits this season, all doubles. Since his last batting title in 2020, LeMahieu has been a subpar hitter, with a .253 average and 96 OPS+ over the past four seasons.
If Boone won’t bench LeMahieu, it falls on GM Brian Cashman to find an upgrade. The Yankees can’t afford an underperforming player in the lineup daily, especially when promising prospects like Jorbit Vivas are available. The team needs to focus on current performance rather than past achievements to improve their chances of winning.
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