The New York Yankees' wild card series against the Boston Red Sox kicked off with a thud, a 3-1 loss in Game 1 that left fans grumbling. At the center of the postgame buzz was manager Aaron Boone's choice to bench Jazz Chisholm Jr., the flashy second baseman who's been a spark plug all season. Chisholm, with his 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases marking him as the third Yankee ever to hit that milestone, turned his back on reporters afterward, frustration etched on his face. "That's how I look at it," he said curtly, avoiding the cameras. Indeed, the decision smacked of tactical caution, but it irked more than a few observers who saw Chisholm's speed and power as exactly what the lineup needed against a lefty starter.
Boone defended the move by pointing to matchups, opting instead for Amed Rosario at second. Chisholm entered late as a sub but couldn't turn the tide, going hitless in his pinch-hit at-bat. The Yankees' infield has been a revolving door this year, with Chisholm shifting between second and third base—28 straight starts at the hot corner before sliding back. It hasn't always meshed smoothly, and whispers from last summer's trade deadline still echo: the Yankees eyed Colorado's Ryan McMahon as a stabilizing force at third. McMahon, a solid glove with pop, was shopped around but ultimately stayed put in a deal that never materialized. However, Boone's handling of the current crew raises eyebrows—did passing on McMahon leave the Yankees exposed in crunch time?
Fast forward to Game 2, and Chisholm's back in the starting nine, alongside Ben Rice, as Boone adjusts course. The series hangs in the balance, with New York needing a win to avoid an early exit. Moreover, Chisholm's visible annoyance hints at deeper tensions in the clubhouse, the kind that can simmer under playoff pressure. Yet Boone, ever the steady hand, insists it's about optimizing every at-bat. The benching was surprising even to Chisholm himself, who admitted as much in his clipped interview.
However, as the Yankees push forward, the infield puzzle remains unsolved, with McMahon's name popping up in offseason chatter once more.