Boone spurns call for change; Yankees clubhouse a 'strength' - ESPN

NEW YORK — Yankees manager Aaron Boone has no plans to start calling out his players publicly more often, no matter how loud the criticism of his club's culture becomes.

«There is probably a time and place for that, but generally speaking, to me that's not leadership,» Boone said Wednesday on a video call with reporters. «That's me giving red meat to people that want to be upset with somebody.»

Boone, speaking from Yankee Stadium, defended his approach amid a wave of pointed commentary from former Yankees, including CC Sabathia, that has taken aim at the organization's standards since the Tampa Bay Rays swept the Yankees in the American League Division Series earlier this month.

«No disrespect, but they don't know what that standard is,» Sabathia, whose No. 52 was retired at Yankee Stadium last month, said recently on the «All The Smoke» podcast. «There's nobody in [the clubhouse] keeping that standard.»

Sabathia went on to criticize the organization for not having more former players around the team, something he said was more prevalent during his 11 seasons with the Yankees. Boone said he «would disagree with that a lot,» adding that he invites former players to spend time with the club, especially during spring training.

«I know how hard it is to play every single day,» Boone said. «I know how hard it is to walk out there every single day in a game of failure. Even when you're having a great year, you fail all the time in this sport. And that's why it's very tough mentally and emotionally to play this game at a very high level, especially here. The accountability factor playing here, I feel like, is very high.»

Earlier Wednesday, general manager Brian Cashman, speaking from the Yankees' spring training facility in