The Yankees set foot in Game 4 against Toronto, riding the wave of a dramatic comeback in Game 3, but the confidence did not last for long. As soon as the lineup card was posted online, social media was flooded with annoyance, particularly over two bold decisions by Aaron Boone. One was regarding Ben Rice. And the other was keeping Anthony Volpe at shortstop regardless of his postseason struggles.

New York Yankees’ X handle updated the news, “@Yankees. Game 4 in the BX.” With this, the Yankees’ Game 4 lineup post was shown. Trent Grisham, CF, Aaron Judge, RF, Cody Bellinger, LF, Giancarlo Stanton, DH, Jazz Chisholm Jr., 2B, Paul Goldschmidt, 1B, Austin Wells, C, Anthony Volpe, SS, and Ryan McMahon, 3 B.

The focus immediately went on Anthony Volpe, who has faced a difficult 2025 season. Vople struck just .212 with 19 homers, 72 RBIs, and a .663 OPS in the regular season. Those struggles have followed him into October, too, where he is batting .217 with a .608 OPS in the postseason until now. Even after that, New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone remarked that Anthony Volpe has made “a few too many” fielding errors this season after the shortstop made his 12th miscue of the season on July 21, 2025, in a 4-1 loss against the Jays.

He’s now tied for most in the American League. Obviously so, fans are questioning why Boone would stick with him in such a make-or-break situation instead of making a more defensive or strategic adaptation.

Adding to the drama was the decision at first base.

For the first time, in all series, Ben Rice didn’t get the start, as Boone included Paul Goldschmidt in the lineup. Goldschmidt, 37, has battled declining power this season. There are multiple instances where Goldschmidt failed the team. On July 25, 2025, the star committed 2 miscues in a 12-5 loss to the Phillies that dropped them 5 1/2 games back of the AL East-leading Blue Jays.

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Goldschmidt also admitted that his declining performance has hurt the team after their 7-0 loss to the Athletics on June 28. “It’s hurt our team the way I’ve played this month,” he said, per SNY Yankees Videos. “I feel fine, but I’ve not played well for the last few weeks, maybe even this whole month,” Goldschmidt acknowledged.

However, Boone explained his reasoning for choosing these two clearly.

“Goldschmidt starts at 1B for Rice, with Boone saying he wanted more balance to not give the Blue Jays clear lanes in their bullpen game,” reported Greg Joyce of the New York Post.

With New York battling to stay alive and push a decisive Game 5 back in Toronto, every lineup choice carries extra pressure. Now, Boone’s gambles have become a point of discussion.

Fans erupt over Volpe’s struggles as Boone refuses to budge

Anthony Volpe’s 2025 campaign has been a storyline filled with frustration, and Yankees fans didn’t hold back after seeing his name in the Game 4 lineup once again.

One fan voiced what many were thinking. “Why does @AaronBoone continue to play #Volpe is mind-boggling. He needs to get over this ‘Cinderella Story’ once and for all. He is batting .217 with 23 ABs, 2 RBIs, 0 stolen bases, and 13 strikeouts!!! WTF is this man thinking!?!? Caballero can hit/steal bases, be a spark!!!” The frustration is amplified by Volpe’s injury history and declining performance. Earlier this year, he suffered a partially torn labrum in his left shoulder, which may have affected his swing and defense. But analysts like Kerry Miller (Bleacher Report) argued that injuries aside, Volpe has simply underperformed, calling him “the Yankees’ worst player in 2025” due to his offensive collapse and fielding errors.

Despite those struggles, Boone has remained loyal to Volpe. And that continues to puzzle fans. As one fan bluntly put it: “The fact Volpe is still in the lineup is hilarious. Just win.” The Yankees’ margin for error in the postseason is razor-thin, and Volpe’s inability to contribute offensively has become a glaring issue. While his defense was once elite, even that part of his game has slipped. Volpe posted +15 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS) as a rookie in 2023 and +6 DRS in 2024, but this year he’s down to +2 DRS with a shocking -8 Outs Above Average (OAA). His range has dropped to the 4th percentile, and his below-average arm strength only compounds the problem. Boone’s loyalty, once seen as developmental patience, now looks like stubbornness for many fans.

Others have turned their frustration into outright anger over Boone’s personnel decisions. Volpe’s 10 postseason strikeouts have been tough to watch, especially when alternatives like José Caballero sit unused on the bench. One particularly furious fan posted: “Sitting Jose C and continuing to play Volpe with 10 K is a war crime.” Volpe’s plate discipline metrics have cratered this season. He whiffs 25.1% of the time and strikes out at a 25% clip, both well below league average. His expected batting average sits in the 15th percentile (.235), while his expected wOBA ranks in the 26th percentile (.313), reflecting a hitter who simply hasn’t adjusted. But Caballero’s ability to put the ball in play and provide speed on the bases could have offered a tactical spark that Volpe isn’t delivering right now.

Then, one fan vented in exasperation. “Don’t you think we’re tired of watching Volpe strikeout boondoggle? He sux!” Volpe’s hard-hit metrics haven’t saved him either. While his 10.3% barrel rate looks decent on the surface, he ranks in the 44th percentile in hard-hit rate and just the 39th percentile in average exit velocity, meaning most of his contact lacks real damage. Combined with a 7.4% walk rate (36th percentile), these underlying stats explain why his once-promising offensive profile has regressed to below replacement level. It’s not just the strikeouts — it’s the quality of his entire offensive approach that has slipped.

Finally, the consistency with which Volpe remains in the lineup—regardless of performance—has become a rallying cry for critics. One simple but telling reaction summed it up. “Volpe plays no matter how bad he’s been.” The perception of favoritism isn’t helped by Boone’s repeated public endorsements of Volpe. Even at the end of August, Boone told The Athletic, “I view Anthony as our shortstop.” But the numbers tell a harsher truth. Volpe’s fWAR has plummeted to 0.8, a steep drop from the 2.0+ range he posted in previous seasons.

With arbitration looming and postseason stakes at their highest, Boone’s faith in a declining player has become a flashpoint in Yankees discourse. The growing frustration around Anthony Volpe isn’t just about a rough playoff stretch—it’s the culmination of a season-long downward trend that fans have watched unfold in real time.