Yankees finally make the Anthony Volpe move fans have been begging for vs. Red Sox

When the New York Yankees dropped their lineup four hours prior to their Sunday night "showdown" with the Boston Red Sox, it didn't take eager scrollers long to find exactly what they'd been hoping for: Anthony Volpe's name omitted from the list of nine. The only question remaining was, "How far down did he fall?"

Volpe will remain on the MLB roster (it seems), but will be replaced on Sunday by Jose Caballero, who's proved - especially in the recent road series with the Cardinals and Rays - to be one of the most impact position players to change hands at the deadline. He's an imperfect direct replacement at shortstop, but he's certainly the best one the Yankees have in their current coffer, and an obvious choice to succeed Volpe and attempt to spark the team.

Well, obvious to everyone except Aaron Boone prior to Sunday's reversal.

Until the lineup drop, Boone was on another "defending Volpe" jag, endorsing the elevated baseball IQ involved in shoveling a ground ball to short to an occupied base. Now, the Yankees are aligned that an evening out of the spotlight is good for what ails their shortstop. The respite should probably extend to Monday, too.

Yankees drop Anthony Volpe from Sunday Night Baseball lineup vs. Red Sox, replace him with Jose Caballero

Will Volpe still somehow find his way into a massive moment on Sunday Night Baseball? Surely; though Boone refused to touch his deeper-than-usual bench in the series-defining opener, odds are he'll be kinder to Volpe than he was to Amed Rosario.

Still, the Yankees took a beyond necessary step here. Volpe is always more effective when he's been rested and recharged. The Yankees cannot afford any of the missteps that have plagued him recently if they want a chance at survival in the series finale. He's been their weakest player. Caballero's been a spark plug. Volpe sits. Easy. Easier said than done, but now it's done.

Of course, this situation was complicated when the pesky Caballero went too far on Wednesday night in Tampa, getting himself ejected from the end of an extra-inning game and leaving the Yankees short-handed. Boone seems to have forgiven him for now, and hopes he can turn his power of annoyance against the unkillable Red Sox instead of back on his own aggrieved coaching staff. Whatever he produces, a night off for Volpe will be a net positive.