Anthony Volpe
My take here was less about Volpe and more about the concept of booing players at a Stadium. Is it fun to boo players who aren't performing? I guess... but is booing a player on your favorite team contradictory to a fan's (likely) larger concern of their team winning? Very much so. When I debriefed with my dad after the call, he mentioned how one could make the case that booing a player could light a fire under them. I think that's rather foolish, and professional psychologists seem to agree, generally.
As for Volpe, I don't think he's going to be the Yankees' shortstop for the next five seasons. I do think he will be a shortstop for some team in the major leagues in five years, just not the Yankees. The Yankees have control over him until he becomes a free agent in 2029, but I think they have higher standards than what Volpe has shown he can do in his first three seasons.
If not Volpe, then who? Well, that's not an easy question. The best free agent shortstop by far over the next two offseasons is Bo Bichette (this offseason). While he would be nice to have, I don't think the Yankees would splurge on him with their top prospect being a middle infielder: George Lombard Jr. After tearing up high-A ball earlier this season (.329/.495/.488), he hasn't had the same success for the Somerset Patriots in double-A (.212/.334/.348). But remember, he's only 20.
Aaron Boone
I just don't get the hate for Boone. I really don't. The best case you could make to "fire Boone" would be the defensive and base running lapses, but that's not a very strong case. To tie back to Volpe, I think home fans booing negatively impacts him far more than Boone's managerial style.
Judging a manager in baseball is not easy. But if I had to, I'd rate them on the following criteria: clubhouse management, press management, use of data, and baseball IQ.
As I posited on the radio, has there been a single negative report about him from one of his players in Boone's eight seasons with the Yankees? I really don't think there is one. With the press, he keeps the most difficult market in check and doesn't make himself the story. With the data, I rarely object to the decisions he makes around the bullpen and the lineup because he plays the matchups. And lastly, Boone comes from a long line of baseball lifers – I have zero qualms.
