Aaron Boone has been to the World Series once before, after he se🐻nt the Yankees and Joe Torre there in 2003 with his famous homer off Boston’s Tim Wakefield in the ALCS.
More than two decades later, Boone still leans on his former manager as 🅰he navigates the playoffs — and Boone said Monday he’d continue to do so a🅘s the Yankees prepare for their first Fall Classic in 15 years.
Asked on Monday what message he passes along to his former player in the postseaso💟n, Torre kept it simple.
“I re🅘mind managers who they are and how to use their experience in the game,” Torre said by phone. “I know we get into all the analytics and info💝rmation — especially this time of year — but I tell them not to give up on their instincts. That’s what got them here. You never want to not use that.”
And that’s especially true wit😼h Boone, Torre added, which is something he wants him to keep as the press𒉰ure of the World Series builds.
“He’s third-gꦺeneration in the majors, with his father [Bob] and grandfather [Ray],” said Torre, who managed both the Yankees and Dodgers and is planning on attending every game of the World Series, starting Friday at Dodger Stadium.
“There’s nothing Aaron hasn’t seen,” Torre said. “But there is a difference in the World Series and the playoffs: You go from a maratꦫhon to a sprint. He knows how to do that.”
Boone, thꩲough, has never had to deal with the pressure cooker of manไaging in the World Series in The Bronx.
And aft﷽er Boone’s ALCS homer in ’03, the Yankees lost to the Marlins, so Boone is also lookin🥂g for his first World Series ring.
“You have to manage the game and not be overwhelmed by everything that’s going on,” Torre said. “If yo💞u let that𒉰 happen, it becomes stressful.”
Torre was in his first year managing the Yankees when he took them to the Wor꧙ld Series in 1996 — their first since 1981 — and they dropped the first two games to Atlanta be💜fore winning the next four.
“At the time, I was just thrilled to be in the World Series,” Torre said of ’96. “I had never been in one, either as a player or manager. So I was just excited to be there. You don’t even think about winning it at first𝐆. But once it starts, you’re conditioned to do the best you can.”
And🐈 he understands better than most that simply reaching the World Series is never enough in The Bronx.
“It’s the necessity to win,” Torre said of the attitude that’s been around 🎃since he worked for George Steinbrenner.🍬 “It’s not about doing a good job to get there. You’re supposed to win, no matter what. When you work there, the expectations and pressure is high. But you know that going in, as I did with George, the challenge. It doesn’t matter who you’re playing.”
And since Boone has October experience both as a player and now as a veteran manager, Torre said he’s better positioned than some other managers who may not have that ré🤡sumé.
The two have remained close and Boone invited Torre to spring training this season, with Torre at🍎te🅺nding camp in Tampa for a few days.
“No one has been around the game longer,” Torre said. “And I’ll always pull for him, since he played for me, so I’m having fun w൲atching it. He’s done a great job. I’ve always felt that way. To come in cold, never having managed before, and then being dropped into the Yankee situation. It’s far from a piece of cake and he’s gotten them this far.”