AL DIVISION SERIES: GUARDIANS VS YANKEES

October 18, 2022

Aaron Boone

Yankee Stadium

New York Yankees

Pregame 5 Press Conference

Q. Why did you decide to go with Nestor instead of Taillon this afternoon?

AARON BOONE: I think just Nestor, you know, we thought physically yesterday was in a about spot and was going to play a role yesterday and at the start of this series, you know, depending on how things played out, kind of envisioned him in a Game 5 scenario, probably as long as we felt like he was good the days in between and feel comfortable with that, and feel like we got a lot of support behind him.

Just felt like this was the way we wanted to go.

Q. You mentioned the support behind him. Are you viewing this more as a bullpen game or do you expect him to go fairly long?

AARON BOONE: Yeah, I mean, I just want him to go as hard as he can, and he'll probably be shorter, so obviously the bullpen is going to play a big role in this I would imagine. But you know, we'll just pay close attention to it and hopefully he can get us off to a good start.

Q. If you guys advance, do you feel it will be at a little bit of a disadvantage given the short turnaround between today and tomorrow?

AARON BOONE: We do this all the time. So nothing about the playoffs is perfect. It's about dealing with adversity and we'll sign up for that.

Q. How much does the extra day, how much more realistic does that make Cole being able to contribute?

AARON BOONE: We'll see. I'll get with him today, and he could definitely be in play but we'll see how it goes here the next few hours with him. But it's potentially in play.

Q. So how do you feel about your ballclub going into this elimination game?

AARON BOONE: Excited. You know, yesterday turned into a long day obviously. You know, but we kind of turned the page and really lock in on what's in front of us today. I think there's some comfort in feeling like we're prepared, and you know, hopefully we can go out there and perform the way we're capable of. But I feel like the guys' mindset and just how they look, I feel like they are ready for it.

Q. How many times were you updated last night about potential start times? Did you keep ramping up and go down, ramp up, go down?

AARON BOONE: We were on Zoom calls by the end there, what was like every 20 minutes because we're waiting for that back edge. So at around 8:20, I feel like we were playing at 9:30. Waiting for that 8:45 at the time to get through and at 8:40 it was nine o'clock and it was 9:05.

So we got on at 9:00, and that 9:05 was 9:10, 9:15; and, oh, this thing popped up over New York, that's going to be 20 minutes letting there. And then at that point, I just don't think MLB had the appetite for once you got starters and field going, for a 10:40, 10:45 potential start.

Q. What are the guys doing that time? Is there anything they can do to stay ready?

AARON BOONE: Yeah, 2022, and the facilities now, obviously we have everything you need to be ready. By the end there, because we had J-Mo after the 8:20 call, we said, we think we're going at 9:30. We just have to get the news for sure that it's clear so that we are not warming up in rain.

He was ready to go out there at the nine o'clock call, I had players ready to go, had eye black on, like what's going on, at my door, basically. And it just kept getting pushed back a little bit, and then obviously got to far. We're like, all right, tomorrow at 4:00. Let's go.

Q. In the postseason but especially in an elimination game, how much do you struggle ordeal with thinking of, do I want guys in familiar roles or lanes versus do I want to have my elite guys coming out there, even in an unfamiliar role?

AARON BOONE: You mean, are you talking like a starter or something? I mean, if the situation calls for it, you try and get what you think is the best guy in the best spot. So I don't stress that much about that. You know, I feel like we are set up good today that if we pitch effectively to get where we want to go, in a regulation game, and then got reinforcements beyond that. I'm excited to see these guys go out and do their thing.