As the New York Yankees gear up for the 2024 postseason, manager Aaron Boone is confident about his team’s chances to make a serious run at the World Series. Speaking with YES Network, Boone emphasized the importance of executing in all aspects of the game—pitching, hitting, and defense—as the key to success in the upcoming playoffs.
“Pitch, hit, and catch the baseball. We do those three things, and we’ve got our chances,” Boone said. While this may sound simple, Aaron Boone broke it down further, explaining that the Yankees need to excel in key areas within those broader categories to truly contend for a title.
One of Boone’s main points of focus was the Yankees’ bullpen, which has solidified over the last few months. “I feel good about where our bullpen is, as far as what we’ve seen take shape over the last couple months. Identify, solidify. Those guys doing their job is critical,” Boone noted. The Yankees’ bullpen, long a strong point for the team, will play a crucial role in the playoffs, as timely relief pitching often determines the outcome of close games in October.
In addition to the bullpen, Boone expressed confidence in his starting rotation, particularly Gerrit Cole, who is set to lead the staff. “I feel Gerrit is in a good place to be that ace you can hand the ball to in any situation,” Boone said. Cole’s dominance this season, combined with solid contributions from Carlos Rodón, Clarke Schmidt, and Luis Gil, gives the Yankees a rotation that Boone believes can go toe-to-toe with any lineup in the league.
Offense
Offensively, the Yankees boast one of the most powerful lineups in baseball, having led the league in runs scored during the regular season. “I feel our supporting cast is really good too. Teams are going to try to avoid having Aaron beat them, so it’s going to fall on the entire group to make sure they’re doing their job,” Boone said.
Boone also highlighted the unpredictability of the postseason, where timely contributions from unexpected players often determine a series. “There’s going to be a big hitter, a big at-bat in certain games from different people. I feel we have the guys that are capable of that,” Boone added, expressing confidence that his team’s depth will be a key asset.
Warning to playoff teams
With the postseason looming, Boone believes his team is ready to rise to the occasion. “We’re excited to take our shot. The boys are ready, they’re really focused, they’re really hungry,” he said.
As the Yankees prepare for their first-round matchup against the Kansas City Royals in the American League Division Series, Boone’s message is clear: the team has the talent and drive to make a deep postseason run, but it will take contributions from every player to turn their World Series dreams into reality.