Yankees Manager Ejected! Boone's Rage & Williams' Blame Game!
Aaron Boone, the New York Yankees manager, is making headlines again, and not necessarily for the reasons he'd prefer. Boone was ejected from Wednesday night's game against the Houston Astros, tying his MLB-leading sixth ejection of the 2025 season. The ejection came during a chaotic eighth inning that saw the Yankees relinquish a lead and ultimately lose 8-7 to the Astros at Daikin Park.
Boone's fiery temper towards umpires is well-known, and Wednesday's incident was no exception. However, despite his passionate outbursts, Boone maintains a level of respect for the umpires. "I know how much we preach to our guys about controlling the strike zone. So, it’s always something I’m going to passionately fight for…in the moment,’’ Boone said. "But I also have tried to acknowledge, and mean it, that for the most part a lot of these umpires are as good as they’ve ever been." He also acknowledged the rigorous training and scrutiny umpires undergo, adding that he feels they generally do a good job.
Adding fuel to the fire, Yankees reliever Devin Williams was also ejected after walking in the go-ahead run. Williams didn't hold back his frustration, claiming that home plate umpire Brian Walsh missed four crucial pitches during the inning. "When you’re making good pitches, which I was, not getting those calls really changes the course of an at-bat," Williams stated. Umpire Scorecards indicated that Walsh's calls favored the Astros by plus-1.4 expected runs that night.
Beyond the ejection, Boone is also climbing the all-time managerial ejection list. Currently sitting at 31st with 45 ejections, he has already surpassed notable Yankee skippers like Joe Girardi and Casey Stengel. He's now tied with Ralph Houk and only three ejections away from matching Billy Martin's 48.
Williams' Struggles Continue
The Yankees' acquisition of Devin Williams last offseason was intended to solidify their bullpen. However, Williams has struggled to replicate his previous success with the Milwaukee Brewers. His ERA currently sits at a concerning 5.60, with four blown saves and six losses. Wednesday's implosion, where he allowed four runs in the eighth inning, is just the latest example of his struggles.
The Boston Red Sox, who are currently tied with the Yankees in the American League East standings, may secretly be thanking Williams for his recent performance. Williams has allowed multiple runs in 10 appearances this season, prompting the Yankees to add additional closers at the trade deadline.
The Umpire's Perspective
While the Yankees have a legitimate gripe about the strike zone, it's important to acknowledge the difficulty of umpiring at the highest level. Umpires are constantly under pressure to make split-second decisions, and their calls are often scrutinized and debated. Despite the challenges, the majority of umpires strive to be fair and accurate.