If Judge Thinks Boone Is A Leader, We've Officially Lost Our Minds

Unbelievable. I’m genuinely baffled by Aaron Judge’s take on what it takes to win. It’s almost as if he doesn’t get it—or worse, doesn’t care. Sure, it’s easy to throw out clichés about players needing to step up in big moments, build camaraderie, and grind their way to a championship. But then what? Just sit back and hope it happens? That’s not leadership. That’s wishful thinking.

Look, there’s a reason teams have managers. They’re not just warm bodies in the dugout. They’re there to lead, to set the tone, to push the team to be better. They make tough decisions, hold players accountable, and drive the organization toward a singular goal: winning. If Judge thinks it’s all on the players, then why bother with a manager at all? What’s the point of Aaron Boone standing on the top step of the dugout if his primary qualification is… showing a little temper now and then?

Yeah, you heard that right. According to Judge, Boone is the “perfect leader” because of his temper. What world are we living in? How is that an argument for leadership? Judge’s comments are so hollow, so lacking in any real substance, that if I were him, I’d be scrambling to retract those quotes before they go down in history as one of the weakest defenses of a manager we’ve ever heard.

“He’s what we need,” Judge told David Lennon of Newsday. “He steps up and shows his temper when he needs to defend us. But, whether we’re on a winning streak or facing tough times, he’s always that pillar we can rely on.”  Defends what, balls and strikes?

A pillar? Sure, but a pillar of what? Of mediocrity? Of passive, don’t-rock-the-boat leadership? Boone is steady, I’ll give him that, but steady isn’t always good. Sometimes, steady is just another word for stagnant.

“When you have a guy like that, who stays balanced whether we’re winning or losing, it helps us go out and give our best,” Judge added.

Are we seriously pretending that “staying balanced” is the mark of a great manager? Balance is nice when you’re doing yoga, but this is the New York Yankees we’re talking about. This team hasn’t won a World Series since 2009. The fan base is frustrated, the front office is under pressure, and the standard is supposed to be championship or bust. And Judge is out here applauding Boone for keeping an even keel?

The truth is, Judge sounds like he wants a babysitter, not a manager. Someone to pat him on the back whether the team wins or loses. Someone who can be the “pillar” while the players, what, self-manage? It’s honestly ridiculous. Boone’s job isn’t just to be a friend to the team; it’s to lead them. To get in their faces when they’re underperforming. To make bold moves when the situation demands it. To make the hard calls, even if it ruffles feathers.

But no. Instead, we get Boone the Buddy. Boone, the guy who “defends” his players, who stays “balanced.” That’s all well and good if you’re running a daycare, but this is Major League Baseball. This is the Yankees. They need a manager who commands respect, not just companionship.

Judge can claim all he wants that Boone is the right guy for the job, but his argument falls flat. There’s no conviction, no real insight—just a bunch of empty praise that makes it sound like he’s more worried about keeping his comfort zone intact than winning another ring.

The Yankees captain should be setting the tone, demanding more—not just from his teammates but from his manager, too. Instead, he’s offering up this half-hearted endorsement that feels more like a plea to keep things the same. It’s embarrassing. Judge’s comments are a red flag. They show a lack of urgency, a lack of understanding of what it truly means to win at the highest level. 

And that, more than anything, is why this team won’t break their title drought. There’s no fire, no edge, no accountability. And if Aaron Judge thinks Boone’s temper is the magic ingredient, then maybe the problem is bigger than just the manager.