Yankees GM Cashman backs Boone to turn 'slings' into 'bouquets'

NEW YORK (AP) — Yankees general manager Brian Cashman responded to his team's funk with some flowery language and belief in manager Aaron Boone, the coaches and players.

“You get the bouquets come your way when things are flying high and you get the slings and arrows when things aren’t going well,” Cashman said, hours before the Yankees beat the Mets 4-2 Monday night. "You hear it loud and clear. We know it and we feel it. And it’s our job to find a way to to be flying high and make sure that the product out there is something that everybody’s excited about.”

Going into the Subway Series opener in the Bronx, the Yankees (75-48) had lost 14 of their last 18 games and six straight series for the first time since 1995 . Their AL East lead stood at eight games, down from 15 1/2 games in early July.

Cashman and owner Hal Steinbrenner were booed during Sunday’s ceremony to retire Paul O’Neill’s No. 21. Cashman held a news conference Monday evening, endorsing the team's coaching staff and Boone, his fifth-year manager.

“He's even he’s even keeled," Cashman said. "It’s important for our players to see that, because if he can keep his temperament the same, for the most part, they don’t see panic. They don’t see anything. It doesn’t mean he can’t lose his cool, which he will from time to time when necessary. He has that gear and he can turn to it. You’ve seen it. But I think his demeanor is vitally important, in a market like this, especially.”

Yankees star Aaron Judge said after Saturday's loss to Toronto there needed to be "a little better energy in the dugout and push each other a little bit.”

Judge hit his major league-leading 47th home run in the win over the Mets, connecting off Max Scherzer.

“When you’re playing poorly, you