Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees continues to just make some odd decisions.
I never want to say Boone is making the wrong decisions because he knows his guys better than anyone, but at some point, we have to stop the platoon stuff. Ben Rice, Cody Bellinger, and a lot of the left-handed hitters in this lineup are more than good enough to play against left-handed pitching.
Ultimately, guys need to hit against left-handed pitching to get better at it anyway, so sitting somebody like Rice just does not make sense.
Rice was yet again out of the lineup on Tuesday, and it prompted a lot of questions from Yankees fans around social media. Instead of agreeing with Boone, many disagree with his decisions and are growing frustrated with him. Speaking to reporters before the game, he gave the latest on why Rice isn't playing against left-handers.
“My plan going into this series was to Ben play (Tuesday), but I’ve just been able to so aggressively use Benny (off the bench),” Boone said. “Even though he’s not in the starting lineup, I view him playing a major (factor).
“In the last two games that he sat against a lefty, he’s gotten five at-bats … a homer, walk, single. I’ve been able to kind of fire him at the most important part, and it might be early in the game... (Rice) is going to play against lefties,” he said. “We’re in a unique spot to where Goldie, his superpower at this point in his career is he’s really great against left-handed pitching and he’s has been outstanding so far to start the year.”
The Rice one doesn't make any sense because of how well he's played throughout the year. At least we can justify guys like Jazz Chisholm not playing on days like today, as he's been in a bit of a rut.
“I just feel like Jazz is one of those guys that’s been grinding and scuffling a little bit to start the season,” Boone said. “More than anything, just here early in the season I feel like this is a good day to get Jazz (off) as he’s trying to get on track a little bit.”
Boone later added that he felt like Bellinger just needed a day off due to playing a lot over the past month or so.
The Yankees, very early in the start of the season, really shouldn't be using that as an excuse. I understand that guys need a day here and there, but ultimately, we need guys on the field if New York wants to be the team it's looking to be.