Nine years without a title: Why Aaron Boone’s job security is fueling a Yankees fan revolt

Another season, another wave of frustration: Yankee fans are well acquainted with this emotional rollercoaster. Now the franchise that defines success in championships is going on nine years without a World Series trophy. Playoff berths have come regularly, and the regular season has provided abundant victories, but the championship prize has eluded them. But for a fanbase used to reigning supreme, just being competitive was never going to cut it, and the Bronx is growing weary of waiting.Much of the discontent is focused on manager Aaron Boone, whose job security has become a talking point among baseball pundits. Boone has led the Yankees through several playoff appearances and an American League pennant, but he has yet to bring home the title fans covet. With the drought persisting, many fans feel a shift in leadership is due, despite the organization maintaining that stability is the way to go.Yankees ownership has repeatedly expressed its faith in Boone despite the anger of some segments of the fanbase. The front office says his regular-season performance is a sign that he is still the right man for the job. He's led them to October baseball most years, and they're among the league's best records most years. That kind of enduring competitiveness is very hard to look past from a management perspective.ID@undefined Caption not available.ID@undefined Caption not available.Inside the clubhouse, strong relationships also favor Boone. His communication style and calm demeanour in the face of adversity are traits players have often praised him for, and ones the organization seemingly holds in the highest regard. The Yankees consider Yankee to be steady leadership in a pressure cooker and do not believe that, by firing him, it solves what ails the rest of the roster. That's why ownership has continued to publicly support him, even during periods when criticism from outside the organization has escalated.The front office may be loyal to a fault, but many fans are not. Everywhere you look, social media, sports talk radio, fan forums, fans heartily insulting Boone's game decisions and general steering of the team, Multiple postseason disappointments are evidence of failure, at least to much of the fanbase. It is nine years without a title, a dry spell that they assert should not be tolerated for a franchise with the Yankees' bloodlines and means.The discontent does not rest solely with Boone. Much of the fan base feels the organization has gotten a little too content with just "making the playoffs" as opposed to "winning titles." There are those who wonder about roster construction and long-term strategy. Boone has become the most visible embodiment of those frustrations, making him an easy target. With another season just around the corner and a similar concept of expectations, the pressure on both the manager and franchise will continue to grow.