I'm 71 y/o. One advantage is that I remember when Yogi Berra managed the Yankees in 1964. During what was becoming a lackluster season, Berra exploded on the Yankees' bus when he heard Phil Linz, a decent all-purpose infielder who came up with Tony Kubek, playing a harmonica. With that, the tide turned and the Yankees won the pennant - no playoffs back then - only to lose in seven to the Cardinals under Johnny Keane. Then almost immediately after the series, Berra was fired and the Yankees hired Keane. But with old and broken stars, and after being in 14 World Series in 16 straight years ('49 through '64, except for '54 and '59), the Yankees' dynasty finally ended with the 1965 season.
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I'm a little perplexed as to how his blow up against the umps is viewed as somehow unique and special, as if no one has ever yelled and cursed or berated an umpire before??? It was actually pretty mild. I can think of a lot more epic rants.
He seems a paper tiger at the core. Robotic and bland, not the personality I want for my manager.
So glad he's "learning on the job". When did Yankee manager become an entry level position?
This team has so much talent, and there are so many weak and mediocre opposing teams, if they win the WS it will be in spite of, not because of him. Credit goes to Cashman and his scouting department.
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Is someone savage for chewing out an umpire because his players don’t like the strike zone? To me that one incident was all theater, and what I noticed afterward was that home plate umps were squeezing Yankees pitchers as payback to the savage for standing up one of their own. Like Trump, Boone seems more like someone who poses as a savage.
Intensity? A savage? Nonsense. Earl Weaver was ejected from 98 games during his time as a major-league manager, and was once booted from both games of a doubleheader, an impressive feat. That is intensity and savagery. In addition, Weaver's autobiography, "It's What You Learn After You Know It All That Counts," is by far the best baseball book I have read.
But respect to Boone for being part of the third generation of a great baseball family. And yes, I realize that things have moved on since Weaver's day.
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We're going all the way this year!
I admit, i had my doubts when he first accepted the job. He wasn't extraordinarily talented as a player and he had no management experience. He has proven himself to a be formidable, steadfast leader!
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Been a yankee fan for 60 years and I just don’t think Boone has what it takes to win the series. It pains me to say it but in reality, Boone has forgotten fundamental baseball almost entirely. It’s either the Bombers hit home runs or we lose. What ever happened to :
Bunting
Hit and run
Run and hit
Etc. etc,,,
A pitcher pitching 9 innings!
Yes, I am aware how the game has changed, but, unless you can get the runner on third home, or move the runners over, without hitting home runs, you lose. Boone unfortunately will be a bust when the chips are down. Then again, as a yankee fan, I hope I’m wrong. Go Yankees!!!
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@Mick
I hope you are wrong, Mick - I think he has the chops. I don't care much for what is happening to baseball - the over-reliance on data. I grew up idolizing Bob Gibson and Seaver - when the game was played by the gut and tons of experience, not some computer analysis. I hope there will be a backlash against it very soon. I am sick to death of Exit velos and launch angles.
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@Mick Contrary to popular belief, the proportion or runs scored by home run is actually HIGHER in the post season than in the regular season. It's also common knowledge that pitchers are LESS effective the more times they face a batter in a game. Yanks have terrible starting pitching and a fabulous bullpen, not sure why anyone would want their starters to throw more innings and relievers less.
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@Mick
They don't do that anymore. It's all about power these days. Throw hard, swing hard. That is the new philosophy. Too much reliance on numbers crunching.
When it does not work, does it mean you are bad at math?
Rooting for the Yankees is like cheering on Goldman Sachs to make even more money.
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@MoneyRules If you've had your account at Goldman Sachs for 60 years, you root for Goldman Sachs. My Yankee fandom started with the Game 7 loss in 1960. I am also a Mets fan, and have been since their inception. I went nuts like everyone else in NY in 1969. Both are NY teams and I am originally a New Yorker. My third team is Seattle: watching Ichiro be a star here in Japan and then for the Mariners (and Yanks): nothing better than that. Boone deserves to be Manager of the Year, though he probably won't get it for precisely the reason you mention, and there are other strong contenders, mainly Rocco Baldelli, a good guy whose playing career would have lasted much longer if not for health issues, now under control. Yanks lost home field advantage to the Astros. Last time they met in post-season, all seven games were won by the home team. This season, six out of seven were won at home. That's much higher than the 53-47 advantage the home team enjoys throughout MLB. Baldelli's Twins are the first obstacle, of course. Of more concern to MLB fans should be the explosion of AB's that don't result in action on the field -- many too many strikeouts, sometimes too many walks, time passing while many too many pitchers march in from the bullpen, and the number of home runs approaching that of doubles. When a homer stops being special, it stops being exciting. In addition, why are there so many injuries on routine plays among 20-something players? Find out why and do something about it.
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@Money Rules: You sound like another sore hater; a Mets fan, maybe?
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That ninth inning walk-off home run In the ninth inning of the 1960 World Series is my earliest memory in life.
Life as a yankee fan in the mid-late 60’s was a very painful time. Going to be tough getting past Houston pitching this year.
I was cynical about Boone when he first got the job. I liked Joe Girardi very much.
However, he has proven himself this year, managing the atrocious number of injuries the Yanks have had to cope with. Still pulled in 103 wins, although I wished they would have finished stronger - they might need that homefield advantage if they meet Houston in the ALCS.
Overall, welcome to the Yankee family, Boonie - you are a keeper.
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@Plennie Wingo Amen to every word you wrote.
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