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, benching All-Star infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. for Game 1. The decision, rooted in matchup concerns against left-handed pitching, left Chisholm visibly frustrated—he turned his back on reporters postgame, muttering that it was just how he saw things. Indeed, the Yankees fell 3-1, with Chisholm entering late but unable to spark a comeback. Boone's choice to start Amed Rosario at second base highlighted ongoing infield juggling, a theme that's dogged the team since acquiring Chisholm from Miami last summer.
Chisholm, who joined the 30-30 club this season with 30 homers and 30 steals—only the third Yankee ever to do so—had been a dynamic force at multiple positions. Yet Boone shifted him around, from center field to third base and back to second, amid defensive inconsistencies. Moreover, whispers from earlier in the year resurface now: the Yankees had eyed Colorado's Ryan McMahon as a potential third-base stabilizer before the trade deadline, a move that might have altered this playoff puzzle. McMahon, a solid glove with pop, remains with the Rockies, but his name lingers in Bronx what-ifs, especially as Chisholm's versatility sometimes feels like a liability under pressure.
However, Boone doubled down on his strategy, citing Chisholm's splits against southpaws as the rationale. The 27-year-old Bahamian star bounced back quickly, reclaiming his spot in the lineup for Game 2 alongside catcher Ben Rice, signaling Boone's intent to mix aggression with caution. Chisholm delivered in that must-win, going 2-for-4 with a key RBI in the Yankees' season-saving victory, proving his gamer mentality amid the snub. Still, the benching exposed tensions in New York's infield depth, where injuries and slumps have forced constant adjustments.
Boone's managerial tightrope—balancing stars like Chisholm with platoon advantages—has defined this postseason push. Yet as the series hangs in the balance, one wonders if a steadier hand at third, perhaps like McMahon's, could have smoothed these edges. What does this mean for the Yankees' future lineup experiments?