Not too long ago, the New York Yankees looked like they were in complete cruise control. They were five games up in the AL East and ready to run away with it. But it’s funny how baseball has a way of humbling even the most star-studded teams. The wheels have started to come off, and people are looking for answers directly from Aaron Boone.

The latest blow? A 12-5 loss against the Toronto Blue Jays. And it was not just the scoreline that was alarming and stinging; it was how it all unraveled and what Yankees manager Boone had to say about it all, starting with Max Fried.

Fried came into the game with a 1.92 ERA. Stellar, right? But he didn’t have that spark in him this time. Six innings, four earned runs, a pair of walks, and two home runs allowed—including a three-run shot by Blue Jays’ Andrés Giménez. It put the Yankees in a hole. But even so, Fried was not entirely to blame. There were defensive errors made, chances missed, and the team left 11 runners on base after going 2-for-17 with men in scoring position. Ouch! Boone, though, ended up focusing on Fried and the defense.

“We don’t make the play, then he walks a guy—a little uncharacteristic—and then Giménez got him,” Boone told the reporters. “You know, they pressured him a little bit today. I don’t necessarily think it was his best stuff, but overall, I thought he threw the ball pretty well.” Now, not just Fried, this is uncharacteristic for Boone himself, because he is known to protect his guys, even when they have rough outings. So this sudden pivot, and calling out Fried’s command, has caught fans off guard—and not in a good way.

It’s been a frustrating stretch; the New York Yankees are not losing, they are unraveling. And with every loss, every error, and every vague postgame interview, the pressure on Boone is intensifying. And fans are starting to ask: Is Boone the guy to steer this ship back on course?

Yankees fans erupt on Aaron Boone

A blunt plea came from a user asking the front office to fire Aaron Boone. And the anger is understandable, given that after a brutal loss to the Blue Jays and Boone’s vague comments, fans have had enough. The Yankees have dropped 14 games in June, have blown their division lead, and now risk getting swept by Toronto. If they lose to the Jays, they will be tied for the lead in the AL East. So right now, being the usual Boone—calm and composed—is not helping anyone, and fans are sounding off louder than ever.

A Yankee mentioned that it actually angers him to see Boone at this point. And this is what several Yankee fans feel at this point, and it’s just not about the losses. Take, for example, Boone’s answers on poor defense from DJ LeMahieu’s -1 OAA and Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s -2 OAA, only adding fuel to the fire. He brushed it off, saying, “I think both guys are really talented defenders wherever they line up.” So at this point, fans don’t want sugarcoating, and they want accountability. And Boone is not giving it.

One user summed it up harshly, saying that JAZZ stinks! And really, it’s not just about one bad throw anymore. Chisholm’s move to third has clearly backfired. And the Yankee defense is suffering for it. Boone believes that he will talk through everything, but fans are fed up. With LeMahieu ready and Chisolm struggling, many are asking why the obvious switch has not been made. They are not buying much into the silence.

One fan didn’t mince words, saying he wants Boone and Brian Cashman gone. And this is not the first time Bronx wants them fired! And the emotions are boiling over, because this was supposed to be the year things changed, right? Sure, Juan Soto has walked away, but the crème de la crème replacements were bought in. However, the exhaustion seems to have caught up with the team, given they have had no break and played 16 straight games. The sloppy defense and the mental errors have piled up. Now the All-Star break is near, and a rested roster could bounce back stronger. At least Yankee fans will hope!

But for the Bronx, a silver lining is that not all hope is lost, because the Yankees are trade deadline buyers. This year will likely be the same, and with the current slide, the front office can be aggressive. Most names linked are infielders and pitchers, where help is needed. Is there any name you think is sure to make its way to the pinstripes?