The pressure cooker that is Yankee Stadium has reached a boiling point, and owner Hal Steinbrenner finds himself squarely in the crosshairs of frustrated fans demanding answers. Want to take any guess what happens when a $8.2 billion franchise stumbles? Well, you know the drill – heads roll, and everyone from the clubhouse to the front office feels the heat.

Aaron Boone’s hot seat just got hotter than calls for him to permanently bench struggling closer Devin Williams, whose $8.6 million price tag looks more like highway robbery with each blown save. The Yankees manager faces mounting pressure to “stop the bleeding” by removing Williams from high-leverage situations – a move that could define both their seasons. Boone already removed Williams from the closer role “for right now” following another rough outing where he was booed off the mound at Yankee Stadium, but critics argue the move should be permanent.

ESPN’s Buster Olney pulled no punches when addressing the franchise’s dysfunction, stating that “if they don’t win the World Series, then everybody’s a failure, everyone’s a loser.” The veteran reporter revealed he’s “already fielded calls, text messages from Yankees fans today saying when is Aaron Boone going to get fired?” But here’s where it gets interesting – Olney believes Steinbrenner should step up, suggesting it “would be good if he would just come out and remind everyone that Aaron Boone is in the first year of a multi-year contract.”

Tbh, it makes sense when you consider the business side of baseball. Regarding Williams specifically, Olney didn’t mince words: “I’d say, you know what, leave Devin Williams in the 6th and 7th inning and just set that aside, let other people close games… They could use these next six to seven weeks to just sort of maybe give Devin Williams a little bit of a break.” Alden Gonzalez amplified the urgency, declaring, “they need to stop the bleeding now and they need to do whatever it takes” as the Yankees face mounting pressure to salvage their season.

This isn’t Williams’ first ordeal with closer struggles. The reliever struggled when he took over the closer role for the Brewers and never was as effective as he was in the eighth inning role during his Milwaukee tenure. The parallels are striking – another high-profile closer gig, another meltdown under pressure. Manager Boone has already limited Williams to “just one inning per game,” acknowledging the bullpen works better when guys are going one inning, according to recent reports.

Boone’s Job in Jeopardy as Yankees Struggle

But Williams’ struggles represent just the tip of the iceberg in what’s become a season-long nightmare for the once-promising New York Yankees. The franchise that started as one of the American League’s most dominant forces now finds itself clawing desperately for the final wild card spot as October looms.

The collapse stems from multiple systemic failures plaguing the organization. “One of the strong contenders is Joe Girardi,” noted Adda E. Lavalle Lara for Al Bat, discussing potential Boone replacements. “With a winning history in the Bronx, Girardi led the Yankees to their last title in 2009.” The speculation around managerial changes reflects how deeply the organization’s problems run.

Injuries certainly haven’t helped, but defensive miscues, mental baserunning errors, and questionable late-game decisions have become the Yankees’ calling card. These mounting issues have transformed Boone from a manager with postseason success in six of seven seasons into a coach whose job security crumbles with each blown lead.

The front office quietly explores alternatives as the season’s final stretch unfolds. Girardi’s name surfaces frequently in discussions, with analysts noting his experience and knowledge of the New York pressure-cooker environment could provide the stability this franchise desperately needs. Time is running out for both Aaron Boone and his struggling closer – and the Yankees’ championship window may be closing faster than anyone anticipated.