Aaron Boone has been to the World Series once since hitting his famous home run off Boston's Tim Wakefield in the 2003 ALCS, sending the Yankees and Joe Torre to the World Series.
More than 20 years later, Boone still relies on his former manager to get him through the playoffs — and he will continue to do so Monday as the Yankees prepare for their first Fall Classic in 15 years. he said.
Asked Monday what message he would give to his former players in the postseason, Torre had a simple answer.
“I remind the coaches of who they are and how to use that experience in the game,” Torre said by phone. “I know we're all obsessed with all the analysis and information, especially at this time of year, but I tell them not to give up on their instincts. That's what brought them here. There's no way I won't use it.”
And that's especially true for Boone, Torre added, adding that he wants Boone to keep that up as the pressure of the World Series mounts.
“He's the third generation in the majors, along with his father.” [Bob] and grandfather [Ray]said Torre, who manages both the Yankees and Dodgers and is scheduled to play in every game of the World Series, which begins Friday at Dodger Stadium.
“There's nothing Aaron hasn't seen,” Torre said. “But there's a difference between the World Series and the playoffs. You go from a marathon to a sprint. He knows how to do that.”
But Boone never faced the pressure of coaching a World Series in the Bronx.
And since the Yankees lost to the Marlins after Boone hit his ALCS home run in 2003, Boone is also gunning for his first World Series ring.
“We have to control the game and not get overwhelmed by everything that's going on,” Torre said. “If you leave it alone, it will become stressful.”
Torre, in his first year managing the Yankees in 1996, led the Yankees to the World Series for the first time since 1981, but the Yankees lost the first two games to Atlanta but won the next four.
“At that time, I was just excited to be in the World Series,” Torre said of 1996. “I had never been to that tournament, either as a player or as a coach. So I was just excited to be there. At first I'm not thinking about winning. But… Once you start, you are conditioned to do the best you can.”
And he understands better than anyone that just getting to the World Series is never enough in the Bronx.
“It's what it takes to win,” Torre said of his attitude from his days working for George Steinbrenner. “It's not about doing a good job to get there. You have to win at all costs. When you work there, there's a lot of expectation and pressure. But when I was at George In the same way, we know that the challenge is difficult. It doesn't matter who you play.”
And Torre said Boone's experience as a player in October and now as a veteran manager gives him an advantage over other managers who don't have that background.
The two remain close, with Coach Boone inviting Torre to spring training this season, and Torre attending camp in Tampa for several days.
“There's no one who's been in the game longer,” Torre said. “And I'm always going to pull for him because he played for me. So it's fun to watch.” He's done a great job. I've always felt that way. To be left in the cold and thrown into a Yankee situation when things haven't worked out so far. It's not easy, but he's made it this far. ”
