ESPN: Aaron Boone makes the same error to bring the Yankees to ruin.

Too many Yankees fans have watched this film.

Aaron Boone receives a lot of unjustified criticism from New York Yankees supporters. But he hasn’t always managed his bullpen well, and Saturday’s game was just another instance. In an attempt to keep the game close, Boone resorted to Ian Hamilton in the bottom of the eighth inning when the team was behind 7–6. Athletics led 11–6 at the end of the frame. Three of the four runs were given up by Hamilton. This is what Yankees supporters may have expected.

Hamilton recorded just two outs but gave up a single and gave up two walks. In relief, Tyler Matzek allowed two backbreaking runs, but it was Hamilton who made it possible for the A’s to win the game.

Hamilton has been put in a prominent position and has failed to deliver for the second time in as many outings. In the process, Boone made the same error he had made before.

The over-reliance on Ian Hamilton by Aaron Boone failed once more.
Boone has relied on Hamilton as a reliable reliever for a significant portion of his three-year Yankees career. But Hamilton has been a different person this season. In the eighth inning of a tie game, he recorded just one out and gave up two runs in his last out before leaving with New York down. Although the Yankees did win in a comeback, it ought to have been a warning.

Hamilton had a strong 3.38 ERA in nine appearances, despite his poor performance against the Padres. That’s all well and good, but in only 10.2 innings of work, he had already given up eight walks. Hamilton’s electrifying equipment is undeniable, but this season he hasn’t been able to find it. It was worth asking if his weak command had landed him in a big predicament, and on Saturday, he did indeed walk a pair.

Although the bullpen has been somewhat reduced due to injuries to players like Jonathan Loaisiga and Jake Cousins, is there a reason Boone had to select Hamilton in this position? Why couldn’t Tim Hill have at least begun the eighth inning because he had only thrown one pitch in the seventh? Even though Devin Williams just had a good performance, it seems like he would have been a better choice.

Going to Hamilton almost guaranteed that the Yankees’ challenge of rallying, particularly against Mason Miller, would have been difficult. The Yankees would have needed to score a run in the ninth to equal the game, and no one will know if they would have done so had the score stayed the same. Hopefully, Yankees supporters won’t have to witness Hamilton under high-leverage for some time to come.