Tampa – The 2023 82-80 season provided the Yankees with a built-in edge in 2024, leading to the World Series.
Now the challenge is to turn that World Series shortcomings into fuel and bring another end to October this year, but they have a long way to go to get there.
A year ago, the Yankees arrived at spring training, and from the embarrassment of the 2023 campaign, promoting offseason work and carrying it over to the season.
On Tuesday, the pitchers and catchers reported to Steinbrenner Field in rather different positions, but revenue remained the same. Another year without a championship.
And while the Yankees aren't just able to replicate the edge they came to work last year, manager Aaron Boone has turned to making sure they find another one.
“I've been thinking a lot about this last month. Boone said on Tuesday the night before his first training for pitchers and catchers. “Sometimes, it's like a good team can do great, a great team can become a champion.” Can – Sometimes it's that hunger. Even the best people and the best teams, it's not something that's given.
“Last year, my mind has no doubts. We were hungry. …But we started working on it every day. We started fighting for it every day. That's what you hold each other accountable. We want to step into these doors every day with hunger that can make a difference, especially in the long and tough seasons.”
There should be a lot of areas where the Yankees can find it.
First and foremost, when they last won the field, they saw the Dodgers celebrate their World Series championship in the Bronx. Shots in their poor play with the Yankees.
“You don't like to hear that,” Boone said. “But the reality is, we didn't do our best in the series and they won. So they have the right to say anything. We'll be in that position next year and we'll handle things a little more with class. I hope that is.”
Then came the offseason when the Yankees offered Juan Soto $760 million and were unable to bring him back.
They must answer questions about how they can live without him and whether they have done enough to survive his absence.
“We'll finally decide that, right?” Boone said. “But, as people say, it all goes all the way to our front office, as people say, we're really proud of Pivot.”
And there's the fact that it's a World Series or Bust for the Yankees every year.
The drought has been long since their last title in 2009, and their core (led by Aaron Judge and Jerit Cole) is getting older.
Therefore, the Yankees have several options for what they want to fuel. Boone, who is in the final year of his contract, wants to come organically rather than force anything.
“We definitely need a tone set at the top,” Boone said. “But the true edge, the true hunger comes internally from the man. You have to put that drive out every day. Now I set that tone and hopefully part of it. It's part of bringing out the results. So does our coach.”
Boone has been encouraged by what he's seen so far in the player development complex, where many regulars are working on before camp.
On Wednesday, the journey begins in earnest for pitchers and catchers before Monday's first full squad training.
“Of course, we have high hopes and big dreams,” Boone said. “We're going to fight here…with a talented group that can do a lot. But now, that's what it is. We have a chance to be a really good club. This is what it is. Usually, it's the year and year when you can wear this uniform. But now it's us that's where we go to start work.”
