Aaron Boone confronts Gleyber Torres during game, sparking mixed reactions from Yankees fans

Aaron Boone after he made the tough decision to bench Gleyber Torres during Friday night’s 8-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, on August 3.
NY POST

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Yankees fans took to social media to express their support for manager Aaron Boone after he made the tough decision to bench Gleyber Torres during Friday night’s 8-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. The move was seen as a necessary step to send a message to the struggling team, which has been underperforming since mid-June.

Yankees fans support Boone’s tough decision in 8-5 loss to Blue Jays

Yankees fans were quick to back Aaron Boone’s decision to bench Gleyber Torres for lack of hustle, flooding social media with messages of support. Many fans felt that Boone’s actions were necessary to set a standard for accountability, especially for a team that has been struggling. They appreciated Boone’s willingness to make a tough call, seeing it as a sign that he was serious about instilling discipline and effort in the clubhouse.

Fans also pointed out that while Torres has been a fan favorite, his recent performance and lack of effort warranted Boone’s response. They argued that every player, regardless of status or past achievements, should be held to the same standard. For many, Boone’s decision to bench Torres was seen as a positive step toward turning the season around, with some suggesting that the move could spark a much-needed change in the team’s attitude and performance.

Additionally, Yankees supporters were encouraged by Boone’s leadership and praised him for making a decision that, while difficult, was ultimately in the best interest of the team. This show of support from the fanbase highlighted their trust in Boone’s judgment and their hope that his actions would help the Yankees regain their competitive edge.

What happened

Aaron Boone after he made the tough decision to bench Gleyber Torres during Friday night’s 8-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays, on August 3.

In the second inning, Torres didn’t hustle out of the batter’s box on a 110.7 mph line drive off the left-field wall, assuming it was a home run. He only reached first base with a single and was later thrown out at the plate while attempting to score on Anthony Volpe’s two-out double. Boone, noticing the lack of effort, had a conversation with Torres on the dugout steps before the fourth inning, ultimately deciding to replace him with Oswaldo Cabrera.

“I just felt like I needed to in that spot,” Boone explained. “It’s over now, and we’ve got to move on. Gleyber and I have talked, and hopefully this is a learning moment for all of us.”

Torres was apologetic when speaking with the media after the game, acknowledging Boone’s decision. “I think he did the right thing, especially in the moment,” Torres said. “I’m really sorry for what I did tonight, especially for the fans and my teammates. I made a mistake, and I’m going to learn from it.”

Yankees captain Aaron Judge backed Boone’s decision and noted that the message was clear: “If you’re not doing your job, you’re going to be out of there. Boone made that clear today. Knowing Gleyber, this won’t happen again. He takes pride in his work.”

Torres, a 27-year-old in his seventh major league season, was an All-Star in 2018 and 2019 but has struggled in recent years. He is currently batting .233 with 10 home runs and 42 RBIs, raising his average by hitting .250 in July.

Despite the initial controversy, Yankees fans overwhelmingly supported Boone’s decision. Many praised him for holding players accountable and maintaining a high standard for effort and professionalism on the field.

The exchange between Boone and Torres was captured on camera by the YES Network. Torres later explained, “Maybe it looked bad, but it was just a conversation, trying to understand what happened. I need to be more mature in that situation and just play hard.”

Boone confirmed that Torres would be back in the lineup on Saturday, noting that he allowed Torres to play the field in the third inning to avoid catching Cabrera off guard with a sudden entry into the game.

Boone also addressed criticism about not pulling other players for similar behavior in the past, saying, “Everyone’s going to make judgments, but the reality is, a lot of people don’t know the full story behind every situation and what guys are dealing with. I think it’s one of the more overrated things, defining whether a player plays hard or not. Those guys, including Gleyber, play their asses off.”

Judge praised Torres for taking responsibility, supporting his teammates, and speaking to reporters. “It speaks volumes about the type of guy he is deep down,” Judge said. “He could have run and hid, waiting until tomorrow to face you guys, but he was out there front and center.”

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