In the midst of a turbulent season for the Yankees, criticism of manager Aaron Boone has increased.
However, according to former outfielder Clint Frazier, firing Boone would not solve the problem, as he would not be the one truly responsible for the team’s strategic decisions.
Boone, just a figurehead?
During the launch of his new podcast, Frazier claimed that Boone is “just the mouthpiece” of a more complex system.
If you fire Boone, you have to fire a lot more people
According to him, Boone receives pre-established plans on lineups, bullpen roles and game decisions, drawn up by the analytics team and other executives.
The process of creating the daily lineup, for example, involves a merger between Boone’s proposal and that of the data department. If both agree, it is approved; if not, it is negotiated until a consensus is reached.
A rigid and inflexible structure
Frazier believes the underlying problem is the Yankees organizational structure, which limits the manager’s autonomy
Boone can’t be blamed for every decision. He’s following instructions given to him before the game.”
Even if Boone were fired, the next coach would be subject to the same conditions, making it difficult to imagine real change without a deep restructuring.
The current context of the team
The Yankees began the season with a 35-20 record, but since late May they have fallen to 27-36, ranking among the worst teams in the American League. Bullpen failures, inconsistent offense and defensive errors have been constant.
Boone has been ejected five times this season, accumulating 44 ejections in his career, making him the most ejected manager in MLB today.
Is Boone the problem or the symptom?
Clint Frazier’s statements open up a debate about the true power of managers in modern MLB. If Boone is just an enforcer of other people’s decisions, is it worth focusing criticism on him?
The Yankees’ crisis may require more than a coaching change: perhaps it’s time to review who really makes the decisions in the Bronx.
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