Saturday, December 2, 2017

Is Aaron Boone A Bad Choice?

Aaron Boone, celebrating being named the new Yankees manager. 2003? No idea what you're talking about.

After the news broke of Aaron Boone's hiring, I didn't feel the need to write about it. I shared my opinions, but was able to do so in 240 characters or less. It boiled down to "I like his youth and the fact he's been around the game his entire life, but concerned about his lack of experience." But after reading some of the reactions to this hire I can't help but add my two cents.

For starters, I like that Aaron has been around the game his entire life. No, I don't just mean he's played since he could barely walk. And no, I don't mean his dad was the manager for his town's high school baseball team. See, the day Aaron was born, his father Bob was getting ready to start the Philadelphia Phillies Opening Day game against the Mets (just for kicks I want to say he got a hit and a walk in the game). Aaron's grandfather was also a former Major Leaguer, having a career batting average of .275 over his 13-year career. And Aaron's brother, Bret, had a nice little 14-year career in the big leagues as well.

Aaron Boone has literally been around Major League Baseball his entire life.

While Aaron Boone has no coaching experience, at least at the professional level, I think it's safe to say he has as much... if not more... general baseball knowledge (at the professional level, mind you) than many of the other MLB managers.

So let's not talk about Boone as if he's a total noob.

By the way, at the GM Meetings, Hal Steinbrenner said “My concern about a candidate like that would just be the lack of managerial experience, but even more important, coaching experience of any kind. That would be a concern of mine. It might be less of a concern for Cash.”

I'm willing to assume that Hal gives Cashman plenty of rope. That Brian is allowed to make some decisions that fly in the face of what Steinbrenner wants. But if you think Cashman was able to hire Boone as the team's manager without Hal okaying it, you're out of your mind. We're not talking about the CEO of Walmart not signing off on the hiring of an assistant manager at their store in Winchestertonfieldville, Iowa. The manager for the Yankees is a position that Hal is going to have to sign off on, as it's not only a huge position to fill for the team, but it's unlikely that Aaron is going to make around $45,000 a year like the average assistant manager at Walmart.

Hal Steinbrenner was clearly concerned about a candidates experience, or equivalent experience in the game, and Aaron Boone has more "equivalent experience" in MLB that anyone.

If Boone got the job over guys like Joe Maddon, Terry Francona, and Bruce Bochy, then I'd totally understand being upset. Hell, I'd be upset right there with you. Those are arguably the top three managers in baseball. But those guys were not available. Out of the people available for the managing position, the only guys that you can say are "proven" or successful, and were available, were John Farrell and Dusty Baker. And I don't think anybody wanted either of those men.

So what's the problem with Aaron Boone?

You know what I think it is? I think it's the fact that so many people that cover the Yankees, and in the media in general, love controversy. Negativity is so much more popular than positivity. It amazes me, but it's absolutely true, that negative things written about the Yankees get so much more attention that the positive things written about them. Hell, you can probably say that about any subject. And that's really sad.

Look, I'm not head over heels in love with the hiring of Aaron Boone. I wouldn't have been head over heels in love with them hiring Hensley Meulens, either. Out of the six candidates, I wouldn't have been in love with any of those hires. How can you be in love with something that would carry so many questions? But there's one thing I can tell you with absolutely certainty...

Brian Cashman knows more about what is best for the Yankees than I do. In fact, I'm willing to bet he knows more about what is best for the Yankees than anybody. That doesn't mean he'll always make the right decision, but it is the most well-informed and in line with what the team needs than any of us could make.

3 comments:

  1. I was hoping for Bam Bam , but Boone might do alright.He has been around the game his entire life.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think you summed it up perfectly Bryan. I'm not in love with the hiring, but I'll be optimistic about it. I think it was a better choice than somebody like Wedge or Long. I like the fact that he's young and personable. That's good for the clubhouse.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete

Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)