Yankees manager Aaron Boone defends center fielder after lackadaisical effort leads to brutal error

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New York Yankees fans made their frustration with Trent Grisham known Thursday, but he didn't get the same reaction from his manager — at least not publicly.

With their game against the Cincinnati Reds already a blowout and the Bombers trailing 8-4 in the ninth inning, Reds batter Jeimer Candelario hit a ball to center field. 

Yankees outfielder Trent Grisham, a two-time Gold Glove Award winner in center, took his time to corral the ball and then fumbled it as he tried to set himself to throw it back to the infield. Candalerio made a heads-up move and advanced to second.

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Manager Aaron Boone of the New York Yankees walks to the dugout after a pitching change during the fifth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field April 14, 2024, in Cleveland. (Jason Miller/Getty Images)

The boos rained down from Yankees fans, whose team has lost 14 of its last 19 games.

Aaron Boone admitted the error "[looked] bad in the moment, especially going through what we're going through as a team right now."

However, he chalked it up to how Grisham plays the position.

"It's also the way Trent Grisham, a Gold Glover, plays center field, like that relaxed, easy nature," Boone said after the game. "Do I want him to square up to it and tackle it like you and I might in a side game? Not really. I want him to catch the ball and get it in and keep that guy off second base.

"But he has a track record of outstanding play out there, and that's kind of the way he does — kind of a slow heartbeat, motor and that when you're through it doesn't look great. I understand that."

Trent Grisham of the New