In fairness to Boone, he’s already working without Aaron Judge, who is expected back next week from an elbow injury. Veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt is now a platoon player amid a prolonged slump, and the Yankees realistically cannot play Giancarlo Stanton in the outfield.

Too often in recent memory, the Yankees have showcased baserunning miscues that manager Aaron Boone insists “can’t happen.” There was Jorbit Vivas not sliding into third base on July 18 in Atlanta, then Austin Wells wandering off second Wednesday in New York.