Perspectives - It Is Aaron Boone's Team

by Paul Semendinger

September 9, 2025

***

We have discussed Aaron Boone's leadership a ton since 2017. We talk, debate, and sometimes even argue about much of this. Today I'll share facts that demonstrate that it is Aaron Boone, not the stat guys, and not Brian Cashman, who makes the game decisions for the Yankees. As I continually reflect on Aaron Boone's performance, both this year, and overall, I also have come to a conclusion that also cannot be denied. That conclusion might shock many readers...

As I was answering the Tuesday Discussion question for today, I thought of something that has not been discussed much, or even at all, in the on-going debate regarding how much authority Aaron Boone has as the manager and how much he takes "marching orders" from Brian Cashman and the analytics team.

Let me begin, though, with my position on this, one I have tried to make clear at least 14,328 times before...

I believe that Aaron Boone is given a great deal of information from Brian Cashman and the stat guys. I believe that that information is compelling. I think it is difficult to refute the data he is given. (For example, Boone might decide to play Player X as he's driving to the stadium, but when he gets there, the data he is provided might demonstrate that Player X is batting .145 against the proposed starting pitcher on the other team. At the same time, Boone is given information that Player Y is hitting. 372 against that pitcher. Boone, of course, then elects to play Player Y over Player X.) But still, I do not think Boone is told, "Do this. This is how you must set the lineup." The decisions are, ultimately, Boone's own based upon the data and the suggestions provided to him from others.

I also believe that when it comes to making decisions such as these, that Aaron Boone seems to be a person who relies more on the numbers than his own observations and such. I think the data he is provided is compelling enough to make him follow it, not because he has to, but because it makes sense. (It's also easier to justify a bad move to one's boss if the boss' own people gave the data that pretty much made the decision for him.)

Further, as far as game strategy, tactics, and the like, it's pretty clear that Aaron Boone is not much of an innovator. This would make it most likely that Boone takes the suggestions and the data he receives and follows it closely (while still making the decision himself.)

If anything, Aaron Boone plays the long game. ("It's right there in front of us.") The long game dictates that over time, the stats will (or at least should) play into his favor if he's relying a great deal on quality information. (Think of this in terms of a game like Strat-o-Matic which is based entirely on probability and has been proven accurate for something like 70+ years. One can have a Babe Ruth card that, over 300 at bats, hits only .265 with very few home runs, but if one uses that card for 3,000 at bats, he can be almost certainly assured that Ruth will bat closer to his lifetime average well over .340 while hitting a ton of homers.) Over time, with a big enough sample size, the stats provided to Boone should play out in the manner in which they're given.

I also believe that Aaron Boone is given suggestions for game situations, as are all managers. ("Player X doesn't perform well in Situation Z," "Be cautious with Relief Pitcher W if a bunch of lefties are coming up," and such.) Of course he is. Boone, like any manager, then relies on that data. Again, he probably leans on that data more than managers who would be considered innovative, creative, or free-thinking. (Aaron Boone doesn't seem to be any of those things.) But, still, I do not believe he is told what to do. Based on the information he is given, Aaron Boone makes the in-game decisions.

This, to me, is also obvious on its face. There is no game planning strategy that can possibly go over every single nuance that occurs. I see no evidence that Aaron Boone is a robot or has an ear piece or gets a phone call every single time something happens on the field. Once the game starts, the decisions are Boone's. To argue otherwise, to me, makes no sense. If one wishes to debate this point, I would need to know how others are possibly telling Aaron Boone what to do in every instance in the game. In fact, I do think having an open line of communication with personnel not on the field is even permitted in Major League Baseball. As such, it is Aaron Boone making those decisions.

I believe all of the above is logical, sound, and rational. Aaron Boone is his own man who makes his own decisions, based on accepted input from his general manager and the stat guys when deciding the lineup and making his in-game decisions.

All that being said, I believe I now have what I believe is the most compelling evidence that demonstrates beyond any reasonable doubt that it is Aaron Boone and not Brian Cashman (and not the stat guys) who makes the lineup (and other) decisions. That evidence is Anthony Volpe.

It is clear, and has been clear, for a long long time that Anthony Volpe has not been performing well. Volpe has never hit at the big league level consistently. He doesn't walk. There is no compelling evidence that can demonstrate that he will hit or walk as a Major Leaguer. Volpe's been a Yankee for three seasons now. The data there is clear and consistent. Further, Volpe's arm strength, fielding approach, propensity for errors (and poor decision making) is quantified. There is very little (to no) chance that the stat guys are looking at any data regarding Anthony Volpe's performance, play, and projected performance that can possibly indicate that he will perform better. As such, Volpe plays every day because Aaron Boone, not the numbers, believes he will do well.

Further, it seems clear that Brian Cashman and the stat guys also saw the concerns regarding Anthony Volpe. It seems readily apparent that they acquired both Jose Caballero and Amed Rosario as players who could, and should, take innings (probably the bulk of the innings) from Volpe. And yet, day-in and day-out, it is Volpe who is starting at shortstop. (To the readers, this article is not a debate about Volpe, how he has performed, and how he should or could perform. I am simply using Anthony Volpe as a very clear example to demonstrate the point I am making.) Brian Cashman went out and acquired not one, but two players, who could play shortstop instead of Volpe. If Cashman is making the decisions, it seems clear that he would be telling Aaron Boone to play the players he acquired. And yet, for the most part, those players ride the bench. It would be a stretch to argue or assume that Brian Cashman made those deals to have the players he acquired... not play. In fact, that argument is absurd on its face.

As for the supposition that Aaron Boone only parrots the talking points from the team, that also doesn't make much sense. We have seen Boone make statements that are contradicted by reality. He has also said things that his own players refute. If Boone was told what to say, he wouldn't make statements that make no sense or that are contradicted. Aaron Boone has been mocked and ridiculed by much (most?) of the fanbase and across the media for his talking points. Why would Brian Cashman use the man he hired to make himself and the organization look foolish? Again, this makes no sense.

In addition, the bubble blowing in critical instances, the staring into space as things happen on the field around him, the antics with the umpires, and more - none of that plays well, in any way, with the fans or in the press. If Aaron Boone was told what to do, he would be simply be told not to do those things and to "Look more managerial" and "Make statements that make sense." No leader wants the people he hires to look foolish.

To me, the evidence is clear. It seems the debate should be over. Aaron Boone is the manager. It is he who makes the decisions, not the stat guys, not the front office, nor the general manager. For good or bad, the manager of the Yankees is the one managing the day-to-day operations of the Yankees on the field.

Finally, for the record, while I do not think Aaron Boone is a great, or even good, manager in many regards, he does have to be given a great deal of credit for keeping his team together year-in and year-out when they go through weeks or months of almost continual losing. The bottom line is that Aaron Boone is doing something right.

Aaron Boone's positive approach and optimistic statements ("We'll get 'em tomorrow...") somehow, seem to eventually work. Each year, the Yankees stop their long losing streaks and come together to make the post season. Along the way, while it seems everything is falling apart around the team, the team itself, under Aaron Boone's watch, never crumbles. The Aaron Boone Yankees never seem to have in-fighting, dissention, or any of the other issues that can destroy a team or an organization. Aaron Boone's leadership keeps his teams together. There is no way for the stat guys to plan for that. There is no way Brian Cashman could plan for that.

The credit for keeping the team on an even keel, in spite of all the losing, year-after-year goes to the manager, Aaron Boone. It just does. For all he might do wrong, and for as frustrating as it is to watch the Yankees get out-managed, seemingly far too often, it also is very clear - Aaron Boone, as a manager of people, is doing something right.

The Yankees are Aaron Boone's team. And Aaron Boone is once again about to take them to the playoffs.