Aaron Boone Told to Stop Managing by the Numbers After Yankees Bullpen Collapse

The Yankees had already coughed up a 4–0 lead by the time Devin Williams entered Wednesday night in Houston. Still, the game was tied and winnable until the bullpen chaos returned.

Williams walked the bases loaded in the eighth, then forced in the go-ahead run with another free pass. His frustration with the zone boiled over, and he was ejected. Manager Aaron Boone followed him out. Camilo Doval came in next and immediately gave up an RBI single, then added a balk and a wild pitch as three inherited runs crossed. 

That collapse, just the latest in Williams’ disasters this season, had former GM Jim Bowden offering blunt advice for Boone, It’s time to forget contracts and pedigree and go with your gut. 

“I couldn't care less what Baseball Reference or FanGraphs says about what you’ve done in the past,” Bowden said on Thursday's edition of Foul Territory. “I care what my eyeballs are seeing… just get out there and give us the best shot to win every single out, every single pitch.”

Williams owns 18 saves but also a 5.60 ERA with the Yankees, undone by command lapses like Wednesday’s four walks. Doval has a 3.39 ERA and 16 saves, but his WHIP is 1.32 and inherited runners continue to bite him.

Statcast hints that both still have elite stuff — Williams has a .281 xwOBA allowed and Doval sits at .301 — but neither has commanded it consistently in high-leverage spots.

“I  just want to win games. And I couldn't care less what your history is. I want the best guys out there, period. And that's what I would be conveying to Aaron Boone, the manager, if I were in the front office,” said Bowden, who was GM of the Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals. “Here's the analytics we have to provide for you. Here's our opinion, but you're the manager. Trust your eyes and put the best guy in to win. Don't worry about contracts, don't worry about history. Just get out there and give us the best shot to win every single out and every single pitch.”