Alex Rodriguez believes he knows who’s at fault for the Yankees’ season ending before the ALCS. And it’s not Aaron Boone.
The former Yankees third baseman not only defended the Yankees manager but also took a shot at the team’s roster construction after the Bombers’ 5-2 loss to the Blue Jays in Game 4 of the ALDS on Wednesday night.
Rodriguez, talking on the FS1 postgame show, spoke highly of Boone and suggested that the Yankees roster handcuffed the manager.
While he didn’t call out general manager Brian Cashman by name, Rodriguez listed the issues — catcher, designated hitter and first base — he thought were most pronounced and gave Boone tough choices.
“Honestly, from the entire organization, [Aaron Boone] is the guy I would circle that is the least to be blamed,” Rodriguez said. “He’s got a lot of talent, but for me, personally, one of the worst constructions of a roster I’ve ever seen. You have three left-handed catchers, you have five DHs, you have a first baseman in and out. It’s just a very difficult hand for Boone.
“And honestly, they were exposed against a much better Jays team.”
After winning the best-of-three wild-card series over the rival Red Sox, the Yankees couldn’t keep up against the AL East-winning Blue Jays in the ALDS, getting outscored 34-17.
Part of that had to do with the lack of offensive production throughout the seven games the Yankees played in the playoffs.
Of qualified hitters, Aaron Judge (.500) was the only Yankee to hit over .230 in the playoffs.
Lineup regulars Trent Grisham, Giancarlo Stanton and Anthony Volpe all hit sub-.200 in the postseason.
Yankees pitchers also were plenty culpable with a 5.61 ERA — the second worst of any team that has made the postseason.
After the game, Boone was asked if he had any reason to believe he wouldn’t be managing the Yankees next year. He didn’t seem too worried.
“No, I’m under contract,” he said. “So, no, I don’t expect anything.”
[Notigroup Newsroom in collaboration with other media outlets, with information from the following sources]
