New York Yankees: Aaron Boone should not overcomplicate the Wild Card Game lineup

The New York Yankees officially have one way into the playoffs and that is by being one of the Wild Card teams. With the Wild Card game clinch almost official too, the Yanks must be careful in not over complicating things.

The New York Yankees could win well over 95 games and be forced to go on the road in the do or die Wild Card Game. In a season that is 162 games long, that is what they deserve.

There can be benefits to all of this though. It can give them the chance to catch lightning in a bottle and go into any potential division series with a boatload of confidence and things looking good.

However, the Yanks right now are a borderline mess. The team is coming off a series win vs the Red Sox but still didn’t do enough to prove they are ready for an extended October run.

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The Yanks currently look like a team that will be defeated by the Oakland A’s in the wild-card game. They cannot score runs outside of the home run ball and there is not a single pitcher who is making a case as the for sure starter for that oh so important game 163.

So, with this, there still lies ways the Yankees can win no matter how well or poorly things are going.

One of the ways the Yankees can win is by not overcomplicating the lineup for the playoffs.

Gary Sanchez, for example, is starting to be under some deserved scrutiny for his lack of defense. His defense is not ideal if not straight up bad. Any past ball can cost them runs and if he continues to regress, it will be a liability.

However, that does not mean he is not the best baseball player out of all the catchers. He is slumping badly at the plate and making mistakes on defense.

But, to think he should be benched for the Wild Card game is ludicrous. He is a threat in the lineup and can change the game with one swing of the bat. He should not be even considered to be benched for the Wild Card game. He is the best catcher on this team.

Aaron Boone, and let’s just assume it is all up to him, should not look at every single detail and get nitpicky when making this decision. The best players win you the biggest games. Period. Gary Sanchez gives them the best chance to win. Period.

Also, what is Boone going to do with the outfield?

The Yankees have Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton out there. But what does he do after that? Stanton is best served as the DH. Aaron Hicks also needs to be in the lineup.

Andrew McCutchen was brought in to be part of a playoff push. He is by far the best outfielder left to throw out there.

Bret Gardner, as good as he is, should not be more than a player off the bench. He will not make a difference in the Wild Card game if he starts. No matter how well he does at the end of the regular season.

There might not be any doubt that McCutchen is going to play, but crazier things have happened, and the whole loyalty and more recent postseason experience card could always be pulled.

The Yankees’ starter should be decided the Week before the game and whoever has the hottest hand should probably get that start. So far, that is looking like J.A. Happ.

But, if Severino has one or two more great outings, it will be difficult for him to not get the ball on Wild Card night.

As I said, the best players should get play in the biggest games, so whoever Boone thinks his best pitcher is should start in the Wild Card game. Even if that means not listening to what the fans want.

Regardless, Boone needs to prove to the fans and any other critic that he is indeed fit to do this job.

This all starts with what the team does in the Wild Card game. The best way for Boone to start is to win that game.

The best way to win that game? Not over complicate the lineup.

The Yankees should have not trust in their bullpen, so this even dives deeper into him not overthinking in the actual game itself too.

The best player at each position needs to be in the lineup. The pitcher with the best stuff who can go the longest needs to start. Aroldis Chapman needs to pitch the game in any potential situation that would call for it.

Well, that is pretty much it.

At this point in the season, the sample size we are going to see is not going to reveal that much. The Yanks end the season on the road and everything could be clinched before they even get to Boston to play their last three games.

Those games could mean nothing and anything that happens can easily be overlooked or misconstrued.

Aaron Boone cannot over complicate the lineup. That has hurt the Yankees enough this year and it will likely be a personnel decision that would cost them, not a lack of talent. The Yanks have immense talent.

The Yankees, are all in on the World Series this year. That does not mean their window is closing, it just means they feel they can win now too.

The best way for that is to not over complicate anything. This is playoff baseball. Talent, luck, and being really good, overcomes all.

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The best player should play. Don’t over observe or over think. The Yankees have so much talent. It would be a shame if we never get to see how truly far they can go over a poor lineup decision in one game.

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