The New York Yankees continue their free fall in the American League East with 59 wins, the same as the Boston Red Sox, who are lurking in second place, while the Toronto Blue Jays are five games back.
One of the players who has been singled out as one of the main culprits is Anthony Volpe, who has been under scrutiny since he took over as the Yankees’ starting shortstop in 2023.
Although many saw him as a possible spiritual successor to Derek Jeter, his recent performances have raised doubts, especially on the defensive side.
With 16 errors so far this season, the highest in the league, Volpe has become a target of criticism from fans.
Although his offensive performance has shown improvement, especially since the All-Star break, his defensive performance continues to be a weak point.
In this context, recent statements by manager Aaron Boone, in which he compared Volpe to the legendary Jeter, ignited controversy among the New York team’s fans.
Aaron Boone compares Volpe to Jeter
During a press conference, Boone tried to back his player in the face of boos from the crowd, referencing great figures of the franchise: “I bet everyone who’s in this jersey got booed here at some point,” he said, pointing to a garment with the image of Derek Jeter.
He also recalled that Mariano Rivera, another club icon, was booed in his early days after blowing a couple of saves.
However, it was the direct comparison to Jeter that most upset fans. Boone stressed that even legends faced difficult times in their early days, trying to justify Volpe’s defensive errors on that premise. However, for much of the fans, placing Volpe on the same level as figures such as Jeter or Rivera was exaggerated and unjustified.
Fans lash out at Volpe
On social media, reactions were not long in coming, as many Yankees fans considered the comparison “insulting” and “out of place”. Several users pointed out that Jeter, a five-time Gold Glove winner and Hall of Famer, accumulated 254 errors over 20 seasons, while Volpe already has 16 in a single campaign.
“Comparing him to Jeter should be grounds for dismissal” was one of the most radical posts.
Others pointed out that using names like Rivera or Jeter to defend a player who has yet to establish himself shows a disconnect with the reality of the current team.
Boone made these statements most likely with the intention of protecting his young player, pointing out that everyone makes mistakes and that everyone, even the greatest, has gone through bad patches, but in the comparison he ended up stoking general discontent.
While Volpe has shown improvements at the plate, with six home runs since the All-Star Game, his defensive struggles continue to cost the Yankees runs and games, which is why he has been the subject of criticism from fans.
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