The New York Yankees have one of the better rosters in baseball, but they're struggling to stay afloat in the American League.

Aaron Boone, in eight years as the New York Yankees’ manager, has typically been upbeat and optimistic about his team and its future. He almost always defends his players, even though it has made him a target of fans who argue that the manager can dabble in delusion.

The New York Yankees’ recent losing stretch, one that has put them in the third AL wild card spot, has had obvious effects on manager Aaron Boone’s demeanor. The Athletic’s Brendan Kuty reports that MLB observers are noticing changes in Boone that they’ve never seen throughout his eight years in charge of the Bronx Bombers.