Of Course The Puppeteer Loves His Puppet...

I am thrilled that the Yankees won last night.  These days it’s no easy task and if you look back at that game, you understand that the Yankees had 4 runs early and the Cardinals just kept chipping away. But thank god we held them off.

Meanwhile in the world of Yankeeland, the new narrative is that the Yankees have their best team on the field and there is urgency to win. I mean, no shit.  It’s your job to play good baseball.  Plus, we’re the Yankees, the fans get restless when you don’t.  And so, like we’ve been screaming since June… do better… all of you… including Boone. Including Brian Cashman.  

We can all act like the Yankees are a better ball club after the trade deadline, but the truth is they really are not.  What has happened is that the Yankees were given a handful of stray parts and the Yankees have to learn to adapt with what we were given.  This trade deadline did not make it seamless. This isn’t a genius tactic by Cashman, it’s merely a “this is what the market allowed, I didn’t do very good… make it work please.” And that’s where we are at. Mission Accomplished? Nah.

And now Cashman is coming out and praising Aaron Boone, which may be the dumbest story of the week. I am so tired of the gaslighting… I’m tired of the fact that no one in the Yankee front office will reveal that they are just really bad at their jobs. 

Brian Cashman wants you to believe Aaron Boone is some Zen master holding it all together while the Yankees wobble their way through another season of mediocrity. According to Cashman, Boone has handled the “pressure of an intense media market” with poise, balance, and—get this—being “even-keeled.”

Even-keeled? Please. Boone throws more tantrums at umpires than a toddler denied candy in aisle three of Target. A borderline strike call sets him off like a firecracker, and suddenly we’re supposed to buy the idea that he’s a calm, collected leader? That’s rich.

Meanwhile, Anthony Volpe is still nailed to shortstop despite hitting like a pitcher at the plate, but sure, Boone insists, “It’s right in front of us.” Right. What’s in front of us is a .218 batting average.

Cashman went further into his comedy routine, explaining how Boone has supposedly done “an amazing job” guiding the team through rough patches, brushing off mistakes and slumps while keeping his cool. Cool? The guy paces the dugout like he’s about to audition for Law & Order: Dugout Crimes Unit.

He even tried to drop some WWE metaphors: “I’m not an advocate of becoming Randy ‘Macho Man’ Savage or John Cena …” Oh good, because the Yankees’ real problem isn’t a lack of body slams—it’s a lack of accountability. Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez have already called out this organization for coddling its players, but Cashman’s still acting like tough love is a banned substance.

Here’s where the Yankees stand: 6.5 games behind Toronto in the division, clinging to the last wild card spot by a paperclip and a prayer. Cashman tried to spin it like the Yankees are “defending American League champs,” but the only thing they’re defending right now is their reputation as baseball’s most expensive soap opera. They have a ton of work to do.

And here’s the truth: Boone is Cashman’s puppet. Always has been, always will be. The front office pulls the strings, Boone nods along, and the product on the field suffers. It’s obvious and tired at this point. That’s why Hal Steinbrenner stays conveniently out of sight, dodging questions like a teenager hiding a bad report card. He’s MIA counting his money somewhere, cause none of this matters to him…. he is still making a fortune.

Sure, the Yankees won last night, and yes, it gives fans a temporary sugar high. But the fact that every game feels like a nail-biting ordeal just to survive says everything about where this team really stands.

And you know it.