The Unbreakable Curse of Aaron Boone's Playoff Script
Imagine the heartbreak of a team loaded with talent, stars, and expectations, only to crumble when the lights shine brightest. That's the New York Yankees under manager Aaron Boone—masters of the regular season, but perennial underachievers in the playoffs. It's a pattern that's become as predictable as the sunrise, and fans are left wondering if this cycle will ever break. But here's where it gets controversial: Is Boone the scapegoat, or is he just following orders from a front-office playbook that's doomed to fail?
The Yankees' latest chapter in this ongoing saga unfolded in the ALDS against the Toronto Blue Jays, where they were sent packing after a 5-2 loss in Game 4. Toronto moves on to the ALCS, while New York heads into the offseason with more questions than answers. The turning point? A seventh-inning miscue that epitomized the Yankees' struggles. With Toronto up 2-1 and a runner on first base, Blue Jays shortstop Andrés Giménez smacked a grounder toward Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. It should have been an easy double play to snuff out the rally. Instead, the ball slipped through Chisholm's glove, ricocheting into center field and allowing Giménez to reach base safely. Just two batters later, Toronto's Nathan Lukes delivered a clutch two-run single that widened the gap and sealed the game's fate.
And this is the part most people miss: That error wasn't an isolated incident. The Yankees were thoroughly outmatched in the series, getting outscored 34-19 and outhit 50-34. Their starting pitchers in the first three games—Luis Gil, Max Fried, and Carlos Rodón—combined for a sky-high ERA over 16, showcasing how their offense couldn't keep pace. In Game 2, rookie Jays pitcher Trey Yesavage, with just seven MLB starts under his belt, threw a no-hitter against the Yankees for 5 1/3 innings, fanning 11 batters. By the fourth inning, the score was a lopsided 11-0, with the Yankees having put just two balls in play compared to Toronto's three home runs. It was a display of dominance that highlighted the Yankees' inability to adapt or execute under pressure.
The Yankees avoided a four-game sweep thanks to the heroics of Aaron Judge in Game 3. Judge silenced critics about his postseason woes by batting 9-for-15, smashing a home run, and driving in six runs—a performance that reminded everyone why he's considered one of baseball's elite talents. Yet, the rest of the lineup remained eerily quiet. Giancarlo Stanton managed 4-for-15, Cody Bellinger 3-for-16, Ben Rice 2-for-11, Jazz Chisholm 2-for-14, and Trent Grisham 2-for-17. It was a stark contrast, showing how reliant the team was on one player to carry the load.
After the elimination, Boone reflected on the elusive World Series dream. 'It's hard to win the World Series,' he said. 'I've been chasing it my whole life.' This sentiment captures the frustration, but it also begs the question: Why does this chase always end in disappointment?
Blame is plentiful, but what's truly new here pales compared to the recurring themes. After eight seasons, Boone's tenure is defined by lineups that freeze up in October, defensive lapses on routine plays, and questionable decisions at critical junctures. Boone entered the postseason ready to compete, but like the old saying goes, he came to chew bubblegum and face-plant—and now he's out of gum.
To grasp why this latest exit feels so devastating, let's set the stage with some context. Boone boasts a .584 regular-season winning percentage, ranking 15th in MLB history, sandwiched between legends like John McGraw and Earl Weaver. From 2018 onward, the Yankees have racked up 697 wins—more than any team except the Dodgers (749) and Astros (705). Yet, in the playoffs, it's a different story: 25-27 overall, and a dismal 10-23 against teams outside the AL Central. His managerial resume is dotted with blunders that, in hindsight, seem avoidable:
Back in Game 3 of the 2018 ALDS against the Red Sox, Boone kept starter Luis Severino on the mound into the fourth inning despite him yielding three runs and six baserunners in the first three. Severino loaded the bases, paving the way for a seven-run inning and a crushing 16-1 defeat. This followed reports that Severino arrived late to the stadium, forgetting the game time—a rookie mistake that compounded the chaos.
In Game 2 of the 2019 ALCS versus the Astros, Boone swapped out reliever Chad Green—who had retired all six batters faced and thrown strikes on 21 of 26 pitches—for Adam Ottavino in the fifth. Ottavino surrendered a home run to George Springer on his first pitch. Post-game, Ottavino revealed the switch was predetermined, even if Green was untouchable, and noted that repeated matchups against the same hitter favor the batter over time.
During Game 2 of the 2020 ALDS against the Rays, Boone tried a surprise opener strategy with rookie Deivi Garcia, followed by veteran J.A. Happ in the second. Garcia allowed a home run immediately, and Happ gave up four earned runs over 2 2/3 innings. When questioned, Happ deferred to Boone, saying, 'I'll let Aaron talk about that.'
In Game 3 of the 2022 ALDS, facing Cleveland with a 5-3 lead in the ninth, Boone chose Clarke Schmidt over closer Clay Holmes. Schmidt let three of four batters reach, and the Guardians won 6-5. Boone claimed Holmes wasn't available, but Holmes disputed that, stating, 'The decision wasn’t mine.'
For Game 1 of the 2024 World Series against the Dodgers, Boone brought in Nestor Cortes Jr.—a starter sidelined for five weeks with an elbow injury—to face their top hitters in extra innings with a 3-2 lead. Cortes gave up a walkoff grand slam to Freddie Freeman. This over Tim Hill, a lefty reliever who'd allowed just one earned run in 5 2/3 playoff innings and maintained a 1.33 ERA over 27 regular-season innings late in the year. Boone explained, 'I liked the matchup.'
In Game 1 of the 2025 wild-card round versus the Red Sox, Boone pulled Fried after 6 1/3 shutout innings due to pitch count, despite Fried wanting to stay. He turned to Luke Weaver, whose ERA had ballooned to 9.64 over his last 10 innings. Weaver walked, doubled, and singled before exiting, leading to a 3-1 loss.
The thread connecting these isn't just errors—it's that many are glaringly obvious in the moment. In baseball strategy, the idea is to do the unexpected, to keep opponents guessing. Boone, however, seems to stick rigidly to a plan, often ignoring real-time intuition.
This ties into a major critique of Boone's era: the notion that he's merely reciting from a script handed down by general manager Brian Cashman and the front office. YES Network announcer Michael Kay blasted the team after Boone used struggling reliever Devin Williams in a scoreless game against the Rangers in August (they lost 2-0). 'I think that Aaron Boone is managing the way the organization wants him to manage,' Kay said. 'Those are the rules of engagement.' He echoed this after a loss to the Twins, when Boone brought in low-leverage pitcher Yerry De los Santos in a tied sixth inning despite a rested bullpen. 'This is all prepackaged, preplanned,' Kay added.
Former players have chimed in too. Clint Frazier, who played for the Yankees from 2017 to 2021, shared on Foul Territory that the analytics team dismissed the idea of 'hot streaks.' 'I remember being told by a specific person in the analytics department that they didn’t believe in, like, players getting hot,' Frazier said. 'I could be 55-for-55 and they would be like, ‘He’s not hot. He’s gonna cool down.’ They believed you were what you were. And in my mind, I was like, but that’s not using your eyes.' Frazier also criticized Cashman for defending Boone, suggesting it's 'self-preservation,' and noting Boone as Cashman's 'shadow.' Fans have voiced their discontent, chanting 'Fire Cashman' in 2023 and displaying banners with the same message this July. But Boone's the one calling the shots in the dugout—those high-stakes decisions are his alone.
In the Toronto series, there was one clear tactical error: In Game 1, trailing 2-1 in the seventh, Boone again called on Weaver, who let all three batters reach in a five-run inning. Yet, Boone didn't have many chances to mess up further because the Yankees rarely held leads—they did so for only six of 36 innings. It's like the scene in The Office where Michael Scott drives into a lake, blindly following his GPS. The front office sets the course, Boone follows without question, and the team sinks again.
The irony? Boone was hired precisely for his clubhouse rapport. After Joe Girardi's departure in 2017, the Yankees emphasized needing a manager who connected with players, especially the young stars. Cashman said, 'As we try to continue to be an evolving, progressive franchise was it time for a new voice and a fresh voice?' He cited Girardi's strained relationships with players like Jorge Posada, Aroldis Chapman, and Gary Sánchez, including a 2014 tirade before Derek Jeter's final game where Girardi criticized players for being overweight and lacking 'hunger.' Boone, with no prior managing experience but widespread popularity, was the fresh start—a manager who'd support his players.
In some ways, he has: He avoids public criticism, fostering a protective culture that some fans see as lacking accountability. But in others, he prioritizes front-office directives over player input, leading to repeated failures. His messages haven't ignited the team when they needed it most.
Boone took over a youthful squad on the verge of dominance; now, it's an aging group racing against time. By next season, Fried will be 32, Judge and Rodón 33, Cole (recovering from Tommy John surgery) 35, and Stanton 36. The window is closing.
So, what's next for the Yankees? Will they stick with Boone for a ninth year, banking on another 90-win season and playoff spot before the inevitable flop? Or will they make a change to prevent Judge from joining the ranks of greats like Barry Bonds and Mike Trout who never won a World Series? Could Cashman's job be on the line? And if he stays, will he collaborate with a manager who challenges the front-office playbook?
What do you think? Is Boone the problem, or is the real issue a rigid system that stifles creativity? Do you agree that analytics have gone too far, ignoring the human element of baseball? Share your thoughts in the comments—let's debate!
