Aaron Boone Defends Trent Grisham After Error Draws Boos From Yankees Fans

despite the error, Boone praised Grisham's Gold Glove-caliber play and said he wants him to continue playing the game with the same relaxed, easy nature.

The New York Yankees have been struggling mightily as of late, and the frustration of the fans boiled over on Thursday night when center fielder Trent Grisham misplayed a ball in the ninth inning of a blowout loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

Grisham, a two-time Gold Glove Award winner, took his time to corral the ball and then fumbled it as he tried to set himself to throw it back to the infield. The error allowed Reds batter Jeimer Candelario to advance to second base, and the boos rained down from the Yankee Stadium crowd.

Aaron Boone Defends Trent Grisham After Error Draws Boos From Yankees Fans

After the game, manager Aaron Boone admitted that 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. "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."

Aaron Boone Defends Trent Grisham After Error Draws Boos From Yankees Fans

"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."

Boone said Friday that he had spoken with Grisham but reiterated his stance.

Aaron Boone Defends Trent Grisham After Error Draws Boos From Yankees Fans

"It’s a bad look," Boone said Friday, "but, at the same time, one of the reasons he’s a Gold Glove center fielder is because of his heartbeat, the reads, the jumps, the ease with which he plays the position. So, you don’t want to lose that in there. But with that, just be mindful of certain routine things."

"If Grish makes a mistake in the field or if Gleyber (Torres) makes a mistake in the field, the way they play the game, it’s not going to have a good look to it," Boone added. "It’s not going to look like you and me playing softball, where we’re going to take it off the chest and off the chin, but we suck."

"Believe me, that lackadaisical look sometimes is what makes Trent Grisham a Gold Glove center fielder. He plays the game with an ease and a flow. Now, catch the ball. We don’t want that guy on second. And it gets magnified a little bit when we’re going through a spell like this."

Despite the error, Grisham is still in the starting lineup Friday. With the team's injuries, there isn't much of a choice. Grisham is hitting just .165 this season, but Boone is hoping that he can turn things around.

"I think he's going to be fine," Boone said. "He's a really good player. He's a hard worker. He's a great teammate. He's got a lot of good qualities. We're going to continue to support him. We're going to continue to believe in him. I think he's going to have a good season."