Brian Cashman’s pain just increased a little. The GM bemoaned consistent losses of the New York Yankees before the game against the Tampa Bay Rays. However, while he talked about the team finding its footing again, they lost another one. With the bats going silent again (even Aaron Judge and Juan Soto aren’t as hot as before), there’s growing pressure on Aaron Boone to find a way out. However, if one listens to what Michael Kay says, the blame lies elsewhere.

Since 2009, the Bronx Bombers have struggled to return to the World Series. The closest they came was in 2017 when the team lost the ALCS in game 7 due to a few misplaced hits and catches. However, instead of continuing with Joe Girardi, the management decided to replace him with Aaron Boone. Now legendary Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay has explained why Boone might be trying to avoid a similar fate.

“To get on Aaron Boone, he should get on his players, he should rip his players apart publicly,” Michael Kay said, continuing, “What do you think Joe Girardi lost his job (for)? He was ripping Gary Sanchez on the podium!” Later, Kay explained how Girardi lost his job despite taking the Yankees to ALCS game 7. And it wasn’t due to his managerial faults, but because “he wasn’t doing things they wanted him to, period.” 

That is an interesting take but it also explains the growing influence that owners and analytical departments are having on the team’s staff. As Michael Kay said, the managers might be managing with at least one arm “tied to their back.” Perhaps that’s why Kay and his fellow analysts asked for some “accountability” from the Yankees ownership. 

After all, while Boone may have failed to take them to the World Series for 6 years, the ownership has failed to do the same since 2009. To what end can Aaron Boone be blamed for that?

No winning culture remains in the Yankees claims analysts

While Michael Kay was fully convinced that it wasn’t Aaron Boone’s fault, Don La Greca was a little apprehensive. He questioned Kay’s “don’t blame Boone, it’s an organizational decision,” argument with a simple “Boone’s got to be a man and he’s got to do what he needs to do.” However, both Kay and Greca agreed on one thing – the New York Yankees no longer have a winning culture within their clubhouse.

“I don’t think the mission statement applies anymore,” Kay lamented. Then, Greca shared how the idea of the mission statement might not exist anymore. “The idea that the mission statement is you have to win otherwise you’re the second place is the first loser. I don’t think it exists within the walls of the organization,” Greca said. The Yankees’ culture has always been about getting to the World Series and winning, and to lose that is scary.

And that is a huge issue and a complete contrast from the New York Yankees of the past. However, one can’t deny that Aaron Boone too might have played a role in fostering this culture. So is the ownership at fault here or is there some other reason for the Yankees’ rot? What do you think? Share in the comments below.