Yankees manager Aaron Boone opens up about uncertain future
No sooner had the Yankees' attempt at advancing in the postseason come to an end that the focus quickly changed to skipper Aaron Boone and whether he'll be rocking pinstripes next season.
But like anyone whose season has abruptly ended, Boone, who is at the end of his current coaching contract, doesn't have the answers quite yet.
"I haven't had any conversations about [my contract] with anyone, so we'll see," Boone said postgame via ESPN. "I love being here. I love going to work with this group of players."
Boone has a 328-218 record over four seasons of coaching in the Bronx and has taken the Yankees to the postseason each time. That record apparently isn't good enough for Yankees fans, however, who are upset the team hasn't won a World Series since 2009. According to ESPN, the last time a Yankees manager was "allowed" to stick around for a fifth season without already winning a championship was in the 1920s.
Getting booted in the Wild Card round by the rival Red Sox with a 6-2 loss on Tuesday night probably doesn't make those stats sting any less.
"When it ends so abruptly, the ending is really cruel," Boone described. "Tonight was another tough one to take. We have been through a lot of wars with guys in that room, and we have a lot of scars."
Despite the down ending to the team's 2021 campaign, Boone said he feels supported by the organization as he enters offseason contract talks.
He apparently has the support of the players, too.
"I could spend all night giving you reasons why he should still be the manager," slugger Aaron Judge told reporters. "When you are the manager of this team and you wear the N.Y. and you wear these pinstripes, it's a heavy burden. But a guy like Booney, man, he wears it with pride, shows up to work every day and gets us prepared the right way, keeps us motivated, and gets on guys when he needs to."
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