During an appearance on FS1’s “The Herd with Colin Cowherd” program, New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter was questioned if manager Aaron Boone’s “little (too) buddy-buddy with players” is to blame for the team’s summer slump.
“I wouldn’t necessarily buy that,” Jeter responded, as shared by Jimmy Hascup of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. “You have to be a players’ manager to be successful, especially in this day and age. The great thing about Aaron: Aaron played the game. He understands that you’re going to have struggles throughout the course of a six-month season. You play 162 games and you’re going to struggle. I think he’s done a great job. Ultimately, it falls on the players. Those are the ones that are on the field, playing the games, actually.”
Boone led the Yankees to the playoffs every year from 2018 to 2022, but the 2023 team missed the postseason and finished with an overall record of 82-80. Last fall, players including All-Star slugger and club captain Aaron Judge supported Boone, and the Yankees finished the season 50-22 on June 14.
However, the Bronx Bombers cooled off in the summer heat, limping into the All-Star break with a 58-40 record. The Baltimore Orioles (58-38) finished Sunday’s MLB action atop the American League East rankings.
“But I would say I haven’t paid much attention to the criticism, and criticism is part of playing in New York, especially when the expectation level is where it is,” Jeter added about some Yankees fans calling for team owner Hal Steinbrenner to fire Boone. “But if he is getting heavily criticized, I think it’s a bit unfair because ultimately the players are the ones that play.”
Boone is in the final year of his contract, which includes a club option for 2025, and there is no indication that he will lose his job before the season ends. When the Yankees begin a four-game home series against the Tampa Bay Rays (48-48) on Friday, stars like Judge will attempt to put an end to speculation about Boone’s near future.
