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New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone calls for a pitching change during the fifth inning against the Cleveland Guardians in Game 2 of the ALCS. Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Yankees manager Aaron Boone pulling all the right strings

By Aaron Case | Last updated 10/16/24

Following an up-and-down regular season, the New York Yankees are rolling in October. What’s the difference? Other than the hot hitting of Giancarlo Stanton, a few key decisions by Aaron Boone have driven the Bombers’ success so far.

The most impactful move Boone has made is dropping Clay Holmes from the ninth inning. Holmes only completed 30 of 43 save opportunities during the regular season. He was virtually an automatic blown save toward the end of the year.

But when Boone began using Luke Weaver as his new closer, Holmes stepped up to provide dominance as a setup man. That one-two punch of Holmes and Weaver has now delivered knockout blow after knockout blow in the playoffs.

Weaver saved all three of the Yankees’ wins in the ALDS and then finished both of their wins to start the ALCS. The journeyman righty has tossed seven innings this postseason, striking out nine and allowing just one run.

"[Luke Weaver] is the most VALUABLE Yankee. Everyone in New York three weeks ago [was saying], 'our bullpen is a mess!'"

- @Plesac19 on the @Yankees closer pic.twitter.com/xnQa0Ilwy5
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 15, 2024

Meanwhile, Holmes has been just as brilliant in his new role. He’s given up no earned runs over 6.2 innings during New York’s 2024 championship pursuit.

On Tuesday, Holmes entered with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth inning, limiting the damage to an RBI groundout and preserving the Bombers’ lead. He’s been the pitcher of record in each of the Yankees' ALCS wins.

Another move that’s paid off for Boone is putting Gleyber Torres in the leadoff spot. Torres spent the majority of the season batting fifth, sixth, and seventh. His highest OPS in those slots was .710.

But when Boone moved Torres to the top of the lineup, he upped his OPS to .755. His production has only increased in the postseason as the 27-year-old has slashed .292/.433/.500 and scored seven runs through six games.

And the Boone magic doesn’t stop there. He trusted Anthony Rizzo to play through pain, and the lefty slugger delivered three hits in two games — including a double that ended up scoring Anthony Volpe when Guardians right fielder Will Brennan bobbled the ball.

What's more, Boone has managed his bullpen perfectly. Yankees relievers have allowed only two runs in the playoffs, neither of which surrendered a Bombers lead.

That said, Boone’s luck could dissipate at any time. Weaver is extremely new to the closer role and Holmes can be streaky. Torres is always prone to pop out on a first pitch or make a base-running blunder, and Rizzo is an HBP away from being unavailable for the remainder of the postseason.

Until those things happen, though, Yankees fans can celebrate their team’s skipper for pulling all the right strings. The Yankee Stadium sound team should even consider playing Metallica’s “Master of Puppets” every time he walks out for a pitching change to underscore his recent genius.

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