New York Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner announced that Aaron Boone will remain the manager of the team for the 2023 season.
It was logical, since he won 99 games in 2022, made it to the AL Championship Series, and had signed a three-year contract extension with an option for the 2025 campaign last year.
Firing him would represent a complete turnaround of what they did last year.
Boone has mastered the regular season to this point: he has a 427-281 record there, with a strong .603 winning percentage.
It’s the postseason where he, and his team, really struggle.
He has a 14-17 record in October, for a mediocre .451 winning percentage.
Of course, that record has other ingredients to it: facing the best teams in the world, and not having particularly deep rosters that can go all the way.
Social Media Gave Its Verdict
Social media, of course, reacted the news that Boone will be returning for 2023.
“This ill-advised motivation tactic is an indication the Yankees’ organizational philosophy has to change for them to get back to winning big, yet today I hear Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone will be back next season…” Gerald So tweeted.
This ill-advised motivation tactic is an indication the Yankees' organizational philosophy has to change for them to get back to winning big, yet today I hear Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone will be back next season…
— Gerald So (@g_so) October 26, 2022
Others went even harder in their criticism: “#MLB what has Aaron Boone done to warrant a year 6 in Bronx. nothing let’s be real only reason he got job because of last name and family pedigree. if he was Aaron Anderson who work 10 years in minors would he be a manager probably not. Also #Yankees want a puppet to control,” @NYCKING tweeted.
#MLB what has Aaron Boone done to warrant a year 6 in Bronx. nothing let's be real only reason he got job because of last name and family pedigree. if he was Aaron Anderson who work 10 years in minors would he be a manager probably not. Also #Yankees want a puppet to control
— BIG ED (@NYCKING) October 26, 2022
There were many negative receptions:
I’m not sure it’s gonna be worth at least (AT LEAST) eight years of this. My 30s are gonna be wasted watching Aaron Boone managed games four batters behind what’s happening on the field.
— Matt DiBari 🐢 (@Mattpat11) October 26, 2022
Others, however, identify the fact that Boone is not to blame for recent struggles.
Aaron Boone coming back doesn’t really change anything. Nothing changes til Hal and Cashman are gone (which won’t happen for a long time) so expect the same thing for years to come. #Yankees #Boone #Cashman
— Larry Totelli (@LTotelli) October 26, 2022
I don't see what making a manager change does for the New York Yankees https://t.co/IWn43UjWNa
— Ryan Garcia (In the Lab🧪) (@RyanGarciaESM) October 26, 2022
Only time will tell if keeping Boone was the right decision or not, but the Yankees need to make major changes in other areas to really give him a shot.
NEXT: MLB Analyst Roasts The Yankees Organization