In the high-stakes opener of the AL Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone made a bold call that left fans and players alike scratching their heads. Jazz Chisholm Jr., the flashy All-Star infielder who's been a spark plug for the team all season, found himself glued to the bench for Game 1. The Yankees dropped a tight 3-1 decision, and Chisholm's absence at second base—replaced by the steadier Amed Rosario—quickly became the talking point of the night. Boone, ever the tactician, pointed to matchup advantages against Red Sox pitching, but it smacked of overthinking to some observers.
Chisholm didn't hide his frustration postgame. Turning his back to the cluster of reporters in the clubhouse, he muttered that the decision caught him off guard, especially after his 30-home run, 30-stolen base season that had him joining an elite Yankees club last seen with Alfonso Soriano back in 2003. "That's how I look at it," he said curtly, before walking away. Indeed, the Bahamian speedster has been versatile, shifting between second, third, and even center field this year, but Boone's choice to sideline him raised eyebrows. It echoed earlier whispers from the trade deadline last summer, when the Yankees eyed Colorado's Ryan McMahon as a potential upgrade at the hot corner—though no deal materialized, leaving Chisholm to fill those gaps.
However, Boone wasted no time adjusting. For Game 2, Chisholm returns to the lineup alongside young catcher Ben Rice, slotted at second base once more. The move signals a course correction after the Game 1 stumble, with the Yankees now fighting to extend their season. McMahon's name hasn't resurfaced in recent chatter, but Boone's infield juggling act continues to draw scrutiny, especially as the playoffs demand reliability over flash.
Moreover, with the series hanging in the balance, one can't help but wonder if these lineup gambles will define Boone's postseason legacy or just add to the Yankees' long list of what-ifs.