Yankees Manager Aaron Boone Defends Lineup Choices in Game 2 Loss
Boone explained his reasoning for sticking with left-handed hitters against a lefty reliever in a critical playoff game.
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone addressed criticism regarding his lineup decisions during the team's Game 2 American League Division Series loss to the Tampa Bay Rays. Boone defended his choice to keep left-handed hitters in the lineup against lefty reliever Ian Seymour in the sixth and seventh innings, even as the Yankees trailed.
Boone stated that he viewed Seymour as a "neutral" pitcher and would have deployed a right-handed batter had the situation involved runners on base. However, with the Yankees down 5-1 in the sixth, his priority was to "get on base, see if we could create traffic and then possibly shoot [Giancarlo Stanton] or Goldie or [Heliot] Ramos in a spot there."
Data from the season indicated that left-handed hitters performed better against Seymour, batting .244 with a .789 OPS, compared to right-handed hitters' .217 average and .683 OPS. Despite this, Boone's strategy saw left-handed hitters Luis García Jr. and Spencer Jones hit for themselves in the sixth, followed by Jazz Chisholm Jr., Trent Grisham, and Austin Wells in the seventh, all of whom were retired by Seymour.
In the eighth inning, Paul Goldschmidt was eventually pinch-hit for Ryan McMahon, but his at-bat resulted in a pop-up. The Yankees' offense struggled overall in the game, with the exception of Ben Rice's two solo home runs.
Separately, pitching coach Matt Blake discussed the performance of left-handed reliever Brent Headrick. Headrick, who pitched in 81 games during the regular season and had a strong record with inherited runners, has seen a dip in his fastball velocity in the playoffs. His fastball averaged 93.2 mph in Game 2, down from his season average of 94.1 mph.
Blake noted that maintaining velocity in the 94 mph range is crucial for Headrick's effectiveness. The pitching coach emphasized the importance of striking with the slider, using offspeed pitches effectively, and improving fastball command, especially given Headrick's extensive use during the season.
The Yankees returned to New York early Tuesday morning and held an optional workout at Yankee Stadium. Boone indicated that he hoped most players would prioritize rest and recovery, but anticipated some would be present to prepare for the next game.