While the New York Yankees have improved their postseason chances, reaching the playoffs may not be enough to save Aaron Boone.
After being on the cusp of missing the playoffs, the New York Yankees have responded. They have won five consecutive games to open a 45 game lead over the Orioles and Tigers for the eighth seed in the postseason. The Yankees now have a 97.7% chance of reaching the playoffs, a 10.2% increase from Friday.
Those odds may improve even more in the coming days. Both Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton could return by next weekend, giving the Yankees an added boost to their lineup. If they can provide close to the production they had prior to landing on the Injured List, the Yankees should be in good shape.
But reaching the playoffs may not be enough. While the Yankees postseason streak would remain intact, being bounced in the first round would be an immensely disappointing end to the season. Such an ending could bring Aaron Boone‘s future with the team into question.
Boone was a bit of a surprise when he was hired prior to the 2018 season. He had been a fan favorite in New York, beloved for sending the Yankees to the 2003 World Series with his series winning homer in the 11th inning of Game Seven in the ALCS. However, Boone had zero coaching or managerial experience, having gone into broadcasting after his playing career.
He has found success on the bench. The Yankees had won 100 games in each of his first two seasons, but they have not advanced beyond the ALCS. On paper, this was the strongest roster that Boone had received, with Gerrit Cole signed to be their new ace and plenty of rotation depth. Add in a strong lineup and bullpen, and the Yankees had all the makings of a potential juggernaut.
Instead, the Yankees have floundered. Injuries have been a factor – Judge and Stanton continue to spend more time on the shelf than on the field, Aroldis Chapman needed his own stint on the Injured List, and James Paxton has been lost for the year.
But that is not an excuse. The Yankees goal for the season was to return to the World Series for the first time since 2009, as the franchise has gone a decade without doing so for the first time since the 1910s. Just sliding into the playoffs would not be nearly enough.
And so, the pressure and spotlight are squarely upon Boone. He is in the final year of his contract, and was considered to be on the hot seat heading into 2020. It is worth remembering that the Yankees did not renew the contract of his predecessor, Joe Girardi, despite his bringing the 2017 team to Game Seven of the ALCS against the cheating Astros.
If Boone is hoping to have the Yankees pick up their option for 2021, slipping into the postseason will not be enough. Getting past the first or second round may not be enough either. Success for the Yankees is measured in championships, and the Quest for 28 has gone on longer than they would have liked. If that quest continues into 2021, someone will need to take the fall.
That fall guy may be Aaron Boone. If he wants to continue on as the New York Yankees manager, he will need to do a lot more than just reach the postseason.