Just when you thought the coast was clear,
here come the Red Sox.
April of last year I was road tripping in Boston the weekend following the Yankees/Red Sox series - the one featuring the rather un-cordial exchange of pleasantries between Alex Cora and third base coach Phil Nevin. While there I listened to a pair of WEEI-radio guys say among other things that Aaron Boone had no pulse. Their comment stuck with me all summer, then into Fall. After what transpired in the post-season I continued pondering this throughout the off-season still not sure of its merits.
Now when I compare Aaron Boone's demeanor so far this season versus all of last season, I would agree the Bean Town talkies may have been on point. But only insofar as last season. One year later Boone seems far more comfortable in his pinstriped skin. He's blown his top a few times and received some well deserved ejections. Call it window dressing, but at least it demonstrates a confidence of character. At the same time it instills either by design or otherwise a sense urgency into a young group.
In any event, Adversity and Defeatism since day one have been sitting in the Yanks dugout spitting out seeds with hardly a glance from the skipper. As we know this year's 25-man roster has been decimated by injury after ruinous injury. To borrow a phrase: it was getting late really early in the season. Or so everyone imagined when the Yankees opened the season minus Didi Gregorius and Aaron Hicks; or after March 31 when both Giancarlo Stanton and Miguel Andujar went down; or after April 3 when Troy Tulowitzki followed suit; or after April 13 when Greg Bird joined them; or after April 20 when even Aaron Judge got overruled; etc., etc.
Yet, thanks to their baby Bomber reinforcements, the Yanks own a 14-6 (.700) record since Judge went down 20 games ago. Moreover, with Sunday's victory over the Rays they closed out the week eight games above .500 and are now within one-half game of first place. So, yeah, Aaron Boone has a pulse. In fact, he's very much alive and doing quite well - calm, cool, and delightfully less collected than ever.
But for how long?
The baby Bombers are doing things well, like limiting their strikeouts to sixth least in the American League, rating fourth in average, and sixth in OPS. But what's going to happen when Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge are reunited in the middle of the lineup with Gary Sanchez? We're speaking of anywhere from 550 to 600 strikeouts a season between the three. If you do not believe this poses a potential negative affect to the present dynamic, I'll agree to disagree.
On May 12, 2018, the Yankees owned a 27-12 record. One year later, they enter Monday's action with a 24-16 record. It's been a remarkable story to date replete with kids, comebacks, and competitiveness. There's a case to be made this season is now New York's to lose. That said, Aaron Boone knows somewhere out there lurks an undetected iceberg ready to slice a huge gash into all this smooth sailing.
Just don't look now because here come the Red Sox whom seem to be over their World Series hangover. After sleepwalking through a 7-13 start, the Sox have since gone 14-6, improving to 22-19 and creeping back into the mix just three games back of the division lead. Not until May 8 did they reach the .500 mark for the first time this season.
And by no means are the Rays to be overlooked. They won 90 games last season. Make no mistake. They're a good team and presently in first place for a reason. They'll continue proving a troublesome Yankee foe just as they've done throughout their existence. After their upcoming three game against the Orioles, the Yankees host the Rays next weekend.
The Red Sox are due to arrive in town at the end of the month.
Steady as she goes.
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