The 12-5 loss to the Blue Jays in Toronto not only extended the New York Yankees’ poor run, it also set off alarm bells in the coaching staff. The defensive performance was again exposed after a key error by Jazz Chisholm Jr., and manager Aaron Boone did not rule out a reconfiguration of the infield to stop the team’s slide, as they have lost seven of their last nine games and saw their lead in the East Division reduced to just one game.“We’re going to talk about all that,” Boone said when asked about the possibility of moving Chisholm back to second base and moving DJ LeMahieu back to third. His response was notable for not closing the door on changes, and analysts such as Jack Curry of YES Network noticed: “If Boone hears something that’s not going to happen, he denies it. This time he didn’t.”
Chisholm’s error reopens debate over his defensive position with Yankees
During the fourth inning, a wild throw by Chisholm in an attempt to retire Davis Schneider resulted in a costly sequence. The play ended with a three-run homer by Venezuelan Andres Gimenez, which tipped the balance in the Blue Jays’ favor. It was one of several moments when the Yankees’ defense was once again exposed in the midst of a losing streak.
“Jazz has great talent, but sometimes he lowers his arm on shots,” commented Bob Lorenz on the YES Network broadcast. Chisholm was moved to third base after LeMahieu’s return from the injured list, but his adaptation has not been as expected, while DJ has already demonstrated defensive solidity in that position.
What changes is Aaron Boone considering to save the Yankees?
Beyond the specific errors, Boone acknowledged that the team’s overall performance has fallen in several areas. “We know we have to get a little bit better and find a way to close out games,” he said. The Yankees have failed at key moments, both in offensive execution and in relief, which again gave up the lead in late innings.
In this series against Toronto, the team is hitting just 2-for-17 with runners in scoring position, while the Blue Jays closed in on the divisional standings thanks to a historic performance by George Springer, who drove in seven runs, including a grand slam off Luke Weaver.
With the margin for error narrowing and competition in the American League East intensifying, the Yankees will have to make some important decisions. Boone is no longer ruling out moves, and defensive performance could prompt an imminent adjustment. The team, which looked solid in the early months of the year, now faces a critical test on its road to October.
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