After describing the season as a “tough year,” Aaron Boone made it clear he doesn’t see his time in New York ending just yet. Back in December 2020, Cashman said he hoped to have “10 more years with Boone.” Guess he actually manifested it after all, as Boone is expected to be back for a ninth season as the Yankees manager. The Yankees fell behind 2-0 to start the series in Toronto. Eventually, they bounced back in Game 3 only to get eliminated in a 5-2 defeat in Game 4 at home. After the meltdown, the criticism that followed all season grew even louder.

The narrative of the Yankees’ season failure once again circled back to Aaron Boone. Although the Yankees faithful are united in this opinion, Yankees legends Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez completely disagree. “I’m not saying that from any inside knowledge, but I’m pretty sure Aaron’s not the one that’s calling every move,” Jeter said while reflecting on the Yankees’ season. Nearly two months ago, something around the same words was recalled by former Yankees outfielder Clint Frazier.

He recalled in August that during his stint with the Yankees, whenever Boone would write his own lineup, the analytics team would produce theirs, and the two sides would merge their versions to create the day’s official order.

In fact, Alex Rodriguez, from a personal standpoint, was baffled by the Yankees’ roster construction. But at the same time, he doesn’t blame Boone for any of it. “Honestly, from the entire organization, he’s the one guy in the circle that has the least to blame. I mean, he’s got a lot of talent. But for me personally, it’s one of the worst constructions of a roster I’ve ever seen.” Rodriguez backed his statement, saying, “You have three left-handed catchers. You have five DHs. You have a first baseman in and out. It’s just a very, very difficult hand for Boone.”

Yet time and again, whenever given the opportunity, Boone never backs out from praising his current core. Still, as A-Rod and Jeter see it, Boone cannot be held responsible for every single decision. Boone is handed the plans in advance, be it the seventh-inning roles or the hitting order, or any decision around it.

If anything, Aaron Boone is a figurehead bound by an organizational structure that controls the moves fans think he’s making by himself. While Boone bore the brunt of the criticism for the entire failed season, the second one who faced scrutiny, particularly for his performance in the elimination game, was Anthony Volpe.

Anthony Volpe became the Yankees’ scapegoat as the Bombers were eliminated

After grappling with an up-and-down regular season, Anthony Volpe struggled with a difficult postseason as well. As the Yankees took a tough 5-2 beating in front of a frustrated crowd of 47,823, Anthony Volpe’s Wednesday night struggles were on full display. He’s been publicly defended all season by both Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone. At the end of the night, he held a mere 1-for-15 at the plate with 11 strikeouts in the Yankees-Blue Jays series.

He’s been struck out 14 times in 24 plate appearances in the postseason alone. It marked the highest among all hitters. The 24-year-old entered Wednesday’s game hitting just .217 with a .608 OPS. And now he’s hitting .192 in the playoffs with a 5-for-26 line.

During the game, when the Yankees were trailing the Blue Jays 4-1, the young shortstop was up to bat in the seventh inning. That’s when one fan hit his breaking point watching Volpe, and well, most.

The fan was miming certain bat swings and pleaded to Anthony Volpe to get the offense going. That too, after he already took two called strikes against the Blue Jays’ lefty Brendon Little. “Swing the f—–g bat,” the fan shouted.

Later, when Aaron Boone replaced him with Jasson Dominguez in the ninth, Volpe was greeted by relentless boos on his way to the dugout. Not just Volpe, Boone took equal criticism for making the 24-year-old play till the ninth. Well, clearly, the Yankees’ front office has many decisions to make as their season winds down early!