Upset Alex Rodriguez alleges roster build, iPad obsession doomed Yankees
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Follow UsNEW YORK — Former New York Yankees star Alex Rodriguez delivered a blistering critique of his former team after their latest postseason failure.
Speaking on FOX’s postgame coverage and during earlier radio appearances, the three-time MVP harshly criticized the Yankees front office, blaming poor roster construction and an overreliance on analytics for the team’s early playoff exit.
New York’s 5-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 4 of the American League Division Series ended its season and triggered fresh debate over how the organization operates. The Yankees dropped three of four games in the series, marking another October disappointment for one of baseball’s most storied franchises.
Rodriguez slams worst construction of Yankees roster
Rodriguez made clear that Boone should not be the scapegoat for the Yankees’ struggles. Instead, he pointed the finger squarely at those assembling the roster.
“Honestly, from the entire organization, he’s the one guy I would circle that has least to be to blame,” Rodriguez said about Boone. “I mean, he’s got a lot of talent, but for me personally, one of the worst constructions of a roster I’ve ever seen.”
The former Yankees third baseman highlighted specific flaws that undermined the team’s success. He cited redundancy at key positions and poor balance across the lineup.
“You have three left-hand catchers, you have five DHs, you have a first baseman in and out,” Rodriguez said. “It is just a very, very difficult hand for Boone. And honestly, they were exposed against a much better Jays team.”
For Rodriguez, the Yankees’ problems extended well beyond one postseason series. Their roster limitations were evident all season, and those weaknesses became glaring once they faced a disciplined Toronto club.
Yankees struggles extend beyond single series
The Yankees’ 94-win regular season masked flaws that resurfaced in the playoffs. New York’s offense faltered badly against Toronto’s pitching. Over seven postseason games, the Yankees were outscored 34-17, managing only brief flashes of power.
Aaron Judge was the lone bright spot at the plate, hitting .500 in the postseason. Every other Yankees regular failed to reach even a .230 average. Trent Grisham, Giancarlo Stanton, and Anthony Volpe all batted below .200, leaving the lineup one-dimensional.
Pitching wasn’t much better. Yankees pitchers combined for a 5.61 ERA during the playoffs, the second worst among postseason teams. What had been one of baseball’s deepest rotations in April looked fatigued and inconsistent by October.
The team’s elimination at home underscored a familiar theme: the Yankees’ regular-season dominance means little without postseason execution.
Analytics approach draws fire from legend
Rodriguez didn’t stop at criticizing roster construction. He took aim at what he views as the Yankees’ growing dependence on analytics and technology over baseball instincts.
During a recent interview on WFAN, Rodriguez urged the team to return to basics. He argued that the Yankees’ obsession with numbers and devices has stripped away the fundamentals that once defined their success.
“I think sometimes, the data and analytics teams, they get so involved and so in the weeds,” Rodriguez said. “You just need to have someone give you six or seven innings, give me a bullpen, give me someone that can catch the ball, some good contact, some good timely hitting.”
He followed with his sharpest remark about the state of modern baseball.
“You gotta get back to playing the game of baseball, teaching the game of baseball, and stop depending on iPads,” Rodriguez said.
His comments reflected a growing divide within the sport over the role of analytics. Many front offices, including the Yankees’, have built entire departments devoted to data. Rodriguez believes that focus has come at the expense of traditional baseball sense.
Front office bears responsibility
Rodriguez argued that Boone has little control over in-game decisions, suggesting that strategy now flows from the front office instead of the dugout. He contrasted that with the managerial power held by past leaders.
“When Joe Torre and Lou Piniella were the managers, they had all the power,” Rodriguez said. “That has shifted up to the front offices.”
He then called for greater transparency from Yankees executives, particularly general manager Brian Cashman and assistant GM Mike Fishman. According to Rodriguez, they are the ones shaping the roster and dictating many of the choices that Boone is left to defend publicly.
The former infielder stressed that fans deserve to know who makes the real decisions. In his view, Boone often takes the blame for plans and lineups designed by those above him.
Yankees face uncertain future
The defeat extended the Yankees’ World Series drought to 16 years — their longest in decades. For a franchise built on championships, the dry spell feels endless.
Now, questions swirl about whether the Yankees will adjust their approach or double down on analytics and big spending. Rodriguez’s critique highlighted problems fans have been vocal about all season: an unbalanced roster, overdependence on technology, and lack of accountability from decision-makers.
The Yankees’ future depends on addressing those issues. Their stars are aging — Judge turns 34 next year, Giancarlo Stanton and Gerrit Cole are both 35 — and key free agents like Cody Bellinger and Devin Williams could leave.
Rodriguez, who hit nearly 700 career home runs without relying on tablets or algorithms, argued that baseball has become overly complicated. His words carried the weight of someone who understands both the clubhouse and the pressures of the Bronx.
Whether the Yankees take that message to heart remains uncertain. But for now, another October has ended in disappointment, and the voice criticizing them loudest is one that once wore pinstripes himself.
The Blue Jays move on to face the winner of the Tigers-Mariners series in the ALCS. The Yankees, meanwhile, enter an offseason defined by frustration, reflection, and a growing call to rethink how they build and manage their team.
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