In a move that caught many off guard, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone opted to sideline Jazz Chisholm Jr. for the opening game of their AL Wild Card Series against the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday. The decision, rooted in matchup considerations against left-handed pitching, saw Chisholm watching from the bench as the Yankees fell 3-1, their season hanging by a thread in the suddenly best-of-three affair.
Chisholm, the Bahamian star who's slashed .262/.336/.473 this season with 30 homers and 30 steals—joining an elite 30-30 club in pinstripes—didn't hide his disappointment. Postgame, he turned his back on reporters, muttering that it was just how he saw things. Indeed, the frustration was palpable; here was a player who'd electrified the lineup since his midseason trade from Miami, now reduced to a late pinch-hit appearance in a crucial playoff spot. Boone, ever the tactician, defended the call by pointing to Chisholm's splits against southpaws, where his numbers dip noticeably. Still, it felt like a gamble on a high-wire act, especially with the Yankees' infield shuffling endlessly this year.
Moreover, the benching echoed broader questions about Boone's handling of the club's versatile but volatile middle infield. Remember the summer buzz around Ryan McMahon, the steady-handed third baseman from Colorado whom the Yankees eyed in trade talks? That pursuit fizzled, leaving Chisholm to bounce between second and third—28 straight starts at the hot corner before reverting to his natural position. Now, with Amed Rosario filling in admirably at 1-for-4 in Game 1, Boone's choices invite scrutiny. Chisholm returns to the starting nine for Game 2 on Wednesday, alongside catcher Ben Rice, as the Yankees push to even the series and extend their October run.
However, such lineup tweaks under playoff pressure often reveal the fine line managers walk. Boone's track record, solid yet polarizing, faces its sternest test yet in this do-or-die matchup at Yankee Stadium.
What does this mean for Chisholm's future fire in the Bronx, or Boone's grip on the dugout?