Jazz Chisholm Jr., known for his candid demeanor, openly expressed his disappointment at being excluded from the lineup for Game 1 of the wild-card series against the Boston Red Sox. Despite his attempts to articulate support for the team's decision, it was evident that his emotions were running high. Yankees manager Aaron Boone emphasized the importance of Chisholm's performance over his feelings, stating, “I don’t need him to put a happy face on it right now. I need him to go play his tail off, which I know he’s going to do.” Boone's focus is on Chisholm’s ability to contribute effectively to the team's success.
Chisholm's frustration became apparent during a post-game scrum following the Yankees' 3-1 loss to the Red Sox. He spent a significant part of his two-minute interview with his back turned to reporters, a clear signal of his discontent regarding not being in the starting lineup. The Yankees opted for a right-handed-heavy lineup against lefty pitcher Garrett Crochet, which led to Amed Rosario starting at second base. This decision was also influenced by the need for enhanced defensive capabilities with Max Fried on the mound.
Having concluded a stellar regular season with a 30-30 record, Chisholm, typically one of the most talkative players in the clubhouse, remarked that the Yankees “got to do whatever we got to do to win.” However, his words lacked conviction, revealing his underlying dissatisfaction. Boone acknowledged Chisholm's emotional nature, stating, “Obviously he’s not the most vanilla guy. He’s going to wear his emotions on his sleeve sometimes. Not the way I would go about it.”
Chisholm claimed that he received a text from Boone regarding his absence from the lineup, but Boone clarified that they had discussed the decision in person the previous Monday. Boone explained that he was weighing the options of not starting Chisholm against Crochet, a choice that some players may not fully agree with. “Look, not every guy’s going to love every decision that I have to make, and that’s OK,” Boone remarked, indicating that he strives to ensure players understand the rationale behind his choices.
In the regular season, Chisholm had been a consistent presence in the lineup against left-handed pitchers, starting in 23 of the 28 games he played against them. His only exceptions included matchups against Cade Povich, Framber Valdez, and three instances against Crochet. On the other hand, Ben Rice was also out of the lineup for Game 1, with Paul Goldschmidt stepping in at first base and performing well.
Despite being sidelined, Chisholm did manage to participate as a defensive replacement in the eighth inning of Game 1, but his at-bat in the bottom of the ninth resulted in a flyout against Aroldis Chapman with the bases loaded. Following the game, Boone faced scrutiny over his lineup decisions, particularly the choices surrounding Chisholm and Rice, as well as his decision to remove Fried from a shutout at 102 pitches. He reflected on whether Rosario should have remained in the game, indicating that the challenge lies in balancing defensive needs with offensive potential.
Boone's thought process revolved around the anticipated matchups with right-handed relievers, which he believed would lead to more opportunities for ground balls to the right side. Despite being aware of Chapman looming in the bullpen, Boone prioritized Chisholm's defensive skills to handle the situation. “That’s a very fair question,” Boone concluded, acknowledging the complexities of managerial decisions in high-stakes games.
