In the high-stakes opener of the AL Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone made waves by benching Jazz Chisholm Jr. for Game 1. The decision, rooted in matchup considerations against lefty pitching, left the All-Star infielder visibly frustrated. Chisholm, who turned his back on reporters postgame, later quipped that he simply looks ahead rather than dwell. Indeed, his disappointment was palpable, especially after a season where he joined the rare 30-30 club with 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases—first Yankee since Alfonso Soriano in 2003.
Boone's call to start Amed Rosario at second base instead didn't pay off immediately, as the Yankees dropped a tight 3-1 loss. However, Chisholm bounced back into the lineup for Game 2 alongside first baseman Ben Rice, signaling Boone's quick pivot amid the pressure of postseason play. This shuffle comes at a time when the Yankees' infield has been a point of contention all year. Chisholm, acquired in a midseason trade from Miami, bounced between second and third base, even starting 28 straight games at the hot corner before reverting to his natural position.
Moreover, whispers from earlier in the season highlighted Boone's interest in bolstering the infield further. Reports surfaced of the Yankees targeting Colorado Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon, a Gold Glove defender with pop, as a potential trade piece to stabilize the left side. Although those talks fizzled amid New York's slump, McMahon's name lingers as a what-if in Boone's roster tinkering. Chisholm's versatility has been a double-edged sword, offering flexibility but also exposing inconsistencies in defensive alignments that plagued the team during stretches of the regular season.
Now, with elimination looming if the Yankees can't even the series, Boone's managerial acumen faces renewed scrutiny. The benching, while tactically defensible, risked alienating a key contributor who's thrived in pinstripes. Yet, as Chisholm steps up again, one wonders if these postseason adjustments will finally gel or merely highlight deeper lineup flaws.