About the Off-Season: Enough is More Than Enough.

About the Off-Season: Enough is More Than Enough.

By Tim Kabel

October 11, 2025

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As the 2025 postseason continues without the Yankees, it is time to start taking stock. It is time to evaluate what went wrong this season and what needs to happen going into next season. I know there are a few people spitting out their coffee as they read this and saying, “what does he mean about something going wrong, the team won 94 games?” Yes, that is true. The Yankees did win 94 games this year. They tied for the best record in the American League with the Toronto Blue Jays. However, they lost the division because the Blue Jays won the season series against the Yankees. By the way, they also won the Divisional Series three games to one. The Yankees as an organization, pride themselves on their history and success. They rightfully flaunt their 27 World Series victories. How many times have we heard someone from the Yankees’ organization or an announcer or a player say, “For the Yankees, anything short of a World Series victory is a failure”? We hear it all the time. Therefore, the Yankees have failed every year since 2009.

Last year, at least the Yankees made it to the World Series before losing. They didn't put up much of a fight and lost it in five games. This year, they were eliminated two rounds earlier. For anyone who thinks that this year was a success because they won 94 games, just remember winning 94 games and $2.00 buys you a Snickers bar. If the Yankees and their fans are satisfied with that, that's fine. There is no harm in that. However, if that's the case, the Yankees, their players, their owners, their executives, and their fans can no longer walk around saying that anything less than a World Series victory is a failure. If we want a participation ribbon, that's fine, just call it what it is.

I don't believe that the Yankees, their players, their executives, and their fans, are satisfied with the results of the 2025 season. Therefore, what needs to change moving forward? As noted above, the last World Series that the Yankees won was in 2009. Joe Girardi was the manager of the team then. For the next eight years, they did not win another World Series under Girardi. After the 2017 season, Girardi was replaced by Aaron Boone. Girardi was retained to manage the Yankees for eight years after having won a World Series. After that he was shown the door. Aaron Boone has managed the Yankees for eight years as well. He has never won a World Series. So, what has he done to earn a longer tenure than Joe Girardi? The answer is nothing. With apologies to Dick Van Patten, eight is enough. It is more than enough.

Aaron Boone has not been able to deliver a World Series victory in his eight years as the Yankees’ manager. We have chronicled his weaknesses as a manager for years. His in-game decisions are dreadful. He is incapable of thinking on his feet or adjusting to in-game situations. There have been many times when he was shown in the dugout appearing to be lost and indecisive. One of the most dreadful incidents in Boone’s tenure occurred this year. After Aaron Judge returned from the IL due to an arm injury, Boone stated that he did not think Judge would be able to throw like himself for the rest of the season. Judge responded with annoyance and stated that Boone had not even watched him throw in three weeks. As I wrote at the time, that is inexcusable. Boone was frequently absent physically, mentally, and perhaps emotionally from the team. Now it is time for him to become permanently absent from the team. It is time for the Yankees to say “Boone Voyage”.

If Aaron Boone hasn't been able to lead the Yankees to a World Series victory in eight tries, why would anyone think he could do it on the ninth try? Why should he even get a ninth try? I understand he's under contract through 2027. However, that should not make a difference. After Wednesday night’s loss, Aaron Boone was asked if he expected to be back as manager next year. He looked shocked and appalled that such a question would be asked and responded that of course he did because he's under contract. Apparently, he's unfamiliar with the concept of firing someone. He needs to become familiar with that immediately. Do we really want to use up two more years of Aaron Judge’s career watching this manager fumble and bumble his way to another early end to a season? No, we don't. I'm quite certain that Judge doesn't either.

OK, let's except the premise that Aaron Boone will be fired. Who should replace him? My suggestion would be Bruce Bochy. Yes, I know he's 70 years old. However, he has managed teams to World Series victories four times. His most recent World Series victory was in 2023 with the Texas Rangers. I think most Yankees’ fans would rather have Bochy at age 71 next year than Aaron Boone at 53 years old, or really at any age. I think Bochy still has the ability, the experience, and the history to successfully manage this team to a World Series victory. Now, perhaps he doesn't want a long-term contract because he will be 71 years old. I have no idea. That is a discussion that needs to occur. However, I have a solution for that. The Yankees should promote Shelley Duncan from AAA to be Bochy’s bench coach. Duncan could gain experience at the Major League level and learn from Bochy, so he could eventually replace him. Honestly, I would have no problem promoting Duncan to be the manager now, but I don't know if the Yankees would do that. Having Bochy as the manager with Duncan as his bench coach would be an ideal situation.

I'm not sure how open Brian Cashman would be to the idea of hiring an experienced, old-school manager but, he needs to be open to it. The Yankees must try something different. Enough is more than enough with Boone. Eight years was enough for Girardi after actually winning the World Series. Eight years is certainly more than enough for Aaron Boone. Let's all gather at the dock, wave our hankies and say “Boone Voyage”.