Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone is hated for spinning even the worst performance of a player to give a positive vibe. However, he contradicts his style while speaking on Mark Leiter Jr.‘s performance following 5-9 loss to the Guardians.
Manager Boone addressed Leiter’s performance after the game, citing issues such as falling behind in counts and leaving fastballs too centered in the strike zone. The Yankees skipper stressed the need for Leiter to improve his approach and refine his pitching strategy.
“With Leiter, just not real sharp,” he told after the game. “Fell behind, base hit up the middle, probably a fastball too much on the plate with both of them there, so we’ve got to get him a little sharper right now.”
His voice and unexpected lack of defense of the reliever raise questions if he was not part to the decision to acquire Leiter.
Mark Leiter Jr.’s brief stint with the New York Yankees has raised some concerns despite his potential. In just 9 1/3 innings, Leiter has posted a 5.79 ERA and a 2.25 WHIP. While he has managed to strike out 13 batters since joining the Yankees, his performance has been inconsistent. For the season, Leiter has accumulated 66 strikeouts over 45 2/3 innings, showcasing his ability to generate swings and misses—a key reason the Yankees acquired him.
Leiter fails to boost Yankees bullpen as expected
The New York Yankees have been facing a sharp decline in their bullpen’s effectiveness in recent months, a troubling development for a unit once hailed as one of the best in Major League Baseball. This decline poses a significant risk to the team’s World Series ambitions.
In the postseason, a strong bullpen is often as crucial as solid offense and starting pitching. The Yankees have been struggling with both their offense and starting rotation, making a reliable bullpen even more critical for success in the later innings, especially from the sixth inning onward.
One major issue has been the recent performance of closer Clay Holmes. Despite his struggles, manager Aaron Boone has not indicated any plans to move Holmes out of the closer role in the immediate future.
To address their bullpen issues, the Yankees made strategic moves at the trade deadline, including acquiring Mark Leiter Jr. from the Chicago Cubs. However, Leiter’s performance since joining the Yankees has been underwhelming, falling short of the team’s expectations and contributing to the perception that the trade might not be a success.
As the season progresses, the Yankees‘ bullpen will be a key factor in determining whether they can overcome these challenges and make a strong push in the playoffs.
However, Leiter’s tendency to leave pitches over the plate has been problematic in his 11 appearances with the team. His struggles were evident in a recent extra-inning loss to the Detroit Tigers, where he had difficulties against the only two batters he faced.
While Leiter has shown the potential to be an effective major league pitcher, his career numbers—4.58 ERA and 4.43 WHIP—suggest he has yet to consistently perform at a high level. This inconsistency may affect the Yankees’ confidence in relying on him during crucial postseason games.
What do you think? Leave your comment below.
Made strategic moves? What would those be, exactly?
I hate when he goes after the players, unless they’re really not trying. The coaches were not his hires. The non performing players still being here is not in his control. Find a way to strongly hint at the coaches need to do a better job or that the front office fell down on the job in securing players.
Maybe Boone needs to look in the mirror and improve his manager skills. He seems to want to always talk how great Holmes is when he can’t seem to be able close any game any more, should work on his skills. Not doing will in his walk year.