Andy Pettitte turns savior for Aaron Boone facing heat from Yankees fans

Wednesday November 8, 2023

Hal Steinbrenner claims to have initiated a crucial offseason by evaluating the prospect of Aaron Boone returning as the Yankees’ manager for the next season. According to him, he brought back the embattled Yankees manager following strong backing by a group led by ex-Yankees great Andy Pettitte.

On Tuesday, Steinbrenner revealed this as the reason for retaining the manager for the 2024 season. His initial inclination was to bring Aaron Boone back, but he remained open to the possibility of a change. This was until he received positive feedback from his front office, team captain Aaron Judge, other players, and former Yankees who had spent time in the clubhouse during the previous season, including figures like Andy Pettitte and Nick Swisher.

When addressing the challenging questions that the team faced this offseason, one of them revolved around Aaron Boone’s position as the manager. For fans who may have concerns about Aaron Boone’s managerial style or feel that he strictly adheres to analytics without using his own judgment, Steinbrenner refutes the notion that he is merely a “puppet” to analytics. However, this might not entirely alleviate concerns, especially if Boone’s decisions, regardless of their source, did not yield favorable results.

Hal Steinbrenner will be deciding on more than just Aaron Boone's job in 2024

Steinbrenner keeps Aaron Boone, cites Pettite-led group

Hal Steinbrenner engaged with numerous baseball experts to assist in determining the future of Aaron Boone with the Yankees. As the Yankees’ managing general partner, Steinbrenner expressed his belief that Aaron Boone is a capable manager. After consulting with this group of individuals, which included players, former players such as Andy Pettitte and Nick Swisher, as well as Brian Cashman’s special advisers, Brian Sabean and Omar Minaya, a consensus was reached. They collectively agreed that Aaron Boone is a capable manager and should continue to serve as their manager in 2024.

“Without giving them my opinion on the call, they all came to the same conclusion, which is Aaron is a good manager and he should be our manager in 2024,” Steinbrenner told.

Aaron Boone is heading into the last season of his current contract, with the Yankees holding a club option for 2025. His regular-season record stands at 509 wins and 361 losses, with a postseason record of 14 wins and 17 losses. Even after a challenging 2023 season, he maintained the backing of the team’s locker room, notably from key figures like Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole.

Steinbrenner highlighted several qualities that he values in the manager. He praised Aaron Boone as highly intelligent and diligent in his work. Furthermore, he pointed out that the players greatly respect the manager, demonstrating their willingness to perform and achieve victory under his leadership. Steinbrenner also emphasized Aaron Boone’s ability to handle and process extensive information from various sources and collaborate effectively with his coaching staff.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone with captain Aaron Judge at Yankee Stadium.

The most significant aspect, according to Steinbrenner, is winning championships. However, he underscored that a manager’s ability to earn the respect and commitment of the players is crucial, which, in his assessment, is not an issue based on his conversations with current players. This is particularly important to him within the clubhouse environment.

No major change is expected by the Yankees

Cashman’s position as GM remained secure, and he will continue to play a central role in the organization. He was actively involved in the Yankees’ offseason meetings in Tampa.

Assistant GM Michael Fishman, who leads the Yankees’ analytics department that has faced criticism in the past, also retained his position. He was instrumental in the recommendation of Zelus, an external analytics company that will conduct a thorough analysis of the team’s use of statistical data throughout the 2024 season.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone is with Anthony Rizzo and Gleyber Torres. — NYY

Steinbrenner was questioned about the forthcoming changes for the next season, and he emphasized that significant adjustments had already been initiated. This included hiring Zelus to delve deep into the team’s analytics and the transition in hitting coaches from Sean Casey, who chose not to return, to James Rowson. Rowson’s hiring is apparently finalized but not yet officially announced.

Additionally, Steinbrenner noted that the Yankees’ player development staff would place a greater emphasis on bunting in response to Boone’s recommendation.

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