Perspectives: A Famous Historian Weighs In (sort of)

By Paul Semendinger

August 18, 2025

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There has been much discussion on these pages regarding Brian Cashman's leadership and also of Aaron Boone's. There are some that claim that Aaron Boone is nothing more than a puppet who says and does whatever (and everything) Brian Cashman tells him to do.

I have argued that Aaron Boone is his own man who, of course, takes direction from the front office (and the analytics people), but who, in the end, is responsible for his own decisions and actions. I have argued that even if Aaron Boone is only taking orders, only parroting the company line, that that, in and of itself, is a problem.

A leader who doesn't lead is one who is sending a message. A leader who doesn't make decisions is actually making a decision (and not a good one).

A leader who doesn't lead is a problem. When one leads by not doing anything, he still is doing something. As the team's field leader, Aaron Boone is responsible, even if he's only obeying orders, and saying what he is told to say, for what transpires on the field.

It is impossible to absent Aaron Boone from the problems that have defined the Yankees these last many years.

While reading the other day, I found a very famous author who, in a completely different situation makes the same point.

My first book (of three) on the Battle of Gettysburg is nearing publication. As I was reading, I came across the following passage in the first book of Bruce Catton's classic trilogy on the Army of the Potomac. While the situation is different, this makes my point entirely. (Note, I have modified parts of this for clarity.)

(General) Pope had celebrated his assumption of command (of the Army of the Potomac) by issuing an incredibly bombastic address to the troops. (It did not go over well.) The Federal soldiers jeered the message quite as much as did the Confederates.

After the war Pope told a friend that Secretary (of War) (Edwin) Stanton had written the address and induced him to issue it.

Even if that explanation is true, it doesn't exculpate Pope: the difference between the stupidity of a man who would write such a screed in the first place and the stupidity of a man who would issue it in his own name after someone else wrote it is a difference only in degree.

(Bruce Catton, Mr. Lincoln's Army, p. 33)

In other words, even if Aaron Boone is only doing and saying what he's told to do and say, he is, by definition, part of the problem. Just following orders does not absolve someone from culpability.

I'd argue that a leader who is only a leader in name, without his own thoughts, actions, words, or approach, isn't a leader at all. Further any person who "leads" in that manner cannot, in any way, garnish the respect of those he is supposedly leading. People do not respect leaders who do not lead.

One who only says what his superiors tell him to say is as much a fool as the superior who crafts the words and actions that are stated and followed.

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As I have also said, any leader that forces his subordinates to do everything he says without allowing any free thought or exchange of ideas is also not a leader.

Great leaders allow the people who work for them to bring their perspectives, ideas, approaches, and etc. to the organization. This is how people grow. This is how organizations grow.

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Regarding a different baseball league...

Our last game of our baseball season was yesterday. This season, I went 4-3 with 1 save. That wasn't too bad for an old guy (57-years-old) playing in a 35-year-old+ league.

In the end, I just love going out there and battling and playing baseball with a terrific bunch of guys. We play our best, we give it all we have, but we have fun. Some teams are comprised of players who never smile, who always argue, and who seem miserable. Our team never acts like that. A few years ago, we were the league champions - not so much this year.

The best part of all is that Ethan is on the team. Not many men get to play baseball with their son. I have had this joy now for seven years. It's one of the highlights of my life.

The long off-season is now upon us. April seems like a lifetime away. I miss it already.

I'll begin my throwing routine in January to prepare for the new season. I plan to win 20 games next year and then get signed by the Yankees to help with their stretch drive.

When I'm on the big league squad, be sure to say hello to me in the bullpen. I'll sign every single autograph request.

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I'm happy the Yankees have turned it around a bit, winning five of six games. Am I convinced they're back? No. Not at all. Not yet. This coming week is a big week for them.

If the Yankees have a successful week this week, things will be looking brighter and the turn around will be more convincing.

Still winning five of six games is a big step in the right direction.

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It seems that MLB Commisssioner Rob Manfred is suggesting that baseball might expand again and that they might completely realign the leagues geographically if that occurs ending the American League and National Leagues as we know them.

This, I believe, would be terrible. One cannot continue to completely change the game, the rivalries, the traditions, and the rest. Eventually all the tinkering leads to a complete mess.

The way baseball is run today reminds me of the way I used to die Easter Eggs as a kid.

"Let me try this..."

"That worked, what about this?"

"Now, how about this?"

In the end, I had an ugly splotchy brown egg that no one wanted to look at, let alone eat.

That's what'll happen to baseball once too many traditions and rules are changed. The game will look nothing like what it used to - a sport that has endured for well over a century.

In an attempt to gain more fans and rake in more dollars, and copy the models of other sports, baseball will be changed in so many ways that it'll be an ugly mess that no older fan cares to follow and also has no appeal to newer fans.

Often times it is best to leave well-enough alone.

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Let's Go Yankees!