Alarm bells are ringing around Aaron Boone. MLB insider Ken Rosenthal recently hinted at what might happen in the unlikely scenario where Boone is unable to guide the Yankees to the playoffs. “What happens if they miss the playoffs? Unlikely, but what happens? More likely they could get knocked out early….. Does Aaron Boone come back? Does Brian Cashman come back? Or do they finally turn the page? All of these seemingly in play,” Rosenthal concluded. Boone, for his part, seemed like he was finally making adjustments, sitting underperformers like Anthony Volpe. But if you thought Volpe’s absence from the lineup on Sunday and Monday meant the Yankees are changing how they see the 24-year-old, think again.

It’s been a rough season for Volpe, both at the plate and in the field. For context, over his last 18 games, he’s collected just eight hits and struck out 18 times. And defensively, the struggles are just as glaring. Volpe leads the league with 16 errors and owns a -7 Outs Above Average! Still, Aaron Boone hasn’t wavered. “I view Anthony as our shortstop,” Boone said before Monday’s series opener against the Nationals.

So, while Volpe didn’t start Sunday’s finale against the Red Sox, he did come in late as a defensive replacement. Boone said to expect the same on Monday, with Jose Caballero getting the nod at short for the second straight game. And for Volpe, now in his third season, it was the first time he’d ever been left out of the lineup two games in a row. Boone described it as a “reset” and said Volpe should be back in the starting lineup Tuesday!

Now, despite Volpe’s struggles, Boone, who has always been one of his strongest defenders, insists he’ll continue to use him regularly. Yes, fans have voiced plenty of concerns about Volpe’s development, but Boone made it clear the Yankees still view the 24-year-old as their shortstop. And if this team wants to make a real run at a World Series, they’ll need him to step up!

Aaron Boone has a long list of controversial decisions this year

Not just Anthony Volpe, Aaron Boone has also been under fire for playing other struggling players for a long time, despite no visible improvement in their performances. Case in point: Relief pitcher Devin Williams.

Remember, the Yankees picked up Devin Williams from the Brewers this past offseason. He was coming off a dominant year in Milwaukee with a 1.25 ERA with 38 SOs in just 22 outings. And guess what, both sides had big expectations. Williams wanted to prove himself and land a big contract, while the Yankees hoped he’d be their lockdown closer.

Instead, things went south quickly. Through his first 49 games in pinstripes, Williams posted a 5.60 ERA and even lost the closer role twice. The low point came earlier this month against the Astros, when Aaron Boone stuck with Williams in the 10th inning of a tie game. The move backfired, as Williams gave up three runs in what turned into a 5-3 loss. However, Boone defended the decision, saying the bullpen was thin that night.

But lately, there’s been reason for optimism. Notably, heading into Monday, Williams had thrown seven straight scoreless innings, giving up just one hit while striking out 15. So, maybe, just maybe, he’s starting to look like his old dominant self again. But what about Volpe? Boone might expect the same Williams-like turnaround from him, and it’s high time that Volpe returns that trust with consistent performances.