Michael Kay has had enough.
The longtime voice of the Yankees didn’t hold back on a recent episode of The Michael Kay Show, delivering a pointed, passionate defense of Aaron Boone amid growing frustration from fans. The message was clear: if you’re still blaming Boone for every in-game decision, you’re missing the bigger picture of how baseball is run in 2026.
“A manager is a CEO,” Kay said. “He’s not hands-on teaching these guys how to run the bases or what bases to throw to.
That’s what the coaching staff is for.” And just like that, Kay cut through the noise - reminding fans that today’s manager isn’t the old-school field general calling every shot from the dugout.
Those days are long gone.
This isn’t unique to the Yankees. Across Major League Baseball, lineup construction, bullpen usage, and even in-game strategy have become collaborative efforts - a blend of analytics, scouting, and managerial instinct. Kay referenced conversations with Yankees GM Brian Cashman to illustrate the tightrope managers walk in this data-driven era.
“I said to him, ‘Is a manager allowed to manage by the gut?’ And he said, ‘Absolutely, but he better be right.’”
That’s the reality now. Managers can go with their instincts, sure - but if that decision goes sideways, the accountability still lands squarely on their shoulders.
Kay made it clear: this isn’t just a Boone thing. It’s the Dodgers.
It’s the Mets. It’s the way winning organizations operate now.
“It’s collaborative,” he emphasized. “Carlos Mendoza is collaborative with the Mets front office, but everybody wants to jump on Boone about it.”
And that’s where Kay really dug in - not just defending Boone’s role, but shedding light on how much the Yankees’ manager absorbs behind the scenes. When things go wrong, Boone often takes the heat publicly, even when the decisions weren’t fully his to begin with. That’s leadership, and it’s something fans rarely see.
Kay brought up a moment from the 2024 World Series, when Boone was blasted for pulling Gerrit Cole early in Game 1. “He got eviscerated,” Kay recalled.
But what fans didn’t know? Cole had told Boone he was done.
“I got nothing left. I’m cooked,” the ace reportedly said.
Boone still took the hit - because that’s part of the job. Protecting your players, even when it means wearing the blame yourself.
That, Kay argued, is the part fans often overlook. Boone isn’t just managing a baseball team.
He’s managing egos, expectations, and a front office that’s deeply involved in every decision. And while the Yankees haven’t won a title in recent years, they’re not exactly falling apart.
They won 94 games last season - tied for the best record in the American League.
“This is not 1995 baseball. It’s not 1996 baseball,” Kay said.
“Forget about 1970 or 1950 baseball.” The game has evolved, and so has the role of the manager.
The Yankees’ recent success, while not culminating in a championship, still reflects a high-performing, competitive organization - one that’s operating under the modern model of team management.
Blaming Boone for not fitting into an outdated mold isn’t just unfair - it’s missing the point. The modern manager is part spokesman, part strategist, part shield.
He’s not drawing up every move in a vacuum. He’s navigating a complex web of data, personalities, and expectations - and doing it under one of the brightest spotlights in sports.
So when Kay says he can’t take another year of the same tired criticism, it’s not just about defending a friend or colleague. It’s about educating fans on how the game actually works now. And whether you agree with the system or not, it’s the system that’s here to stay.