AL DIVISION SERIES: GUARDIANS VS YANKEES

October 18, 2022

Aaron Boone

Yankee Stadium

New York Yankees

Postgame 5 Press Conference

Yankees - 5, Guardians - 1

Q. Terry was in here earlier and he said he felt Civale didn't have the right command out of the gate. What do you feel your first five hitters did well tonight?

AARON BOONE: Yeah, controlled the zone. That was when we are at our best, making you come into the zone. Gleyber sets the tone with a really good at-bat right out of the chute, and even Judge goes 3-2. Rizzo with a really good at-bat and then obviously big G. But it was just heavy at-bats and competitive at-bats and really set the tone for us.

Q. Did you notice anything different in the way Nestor was throwing the ball compared to Game 2?

AARON BOONE: I thought his stuff was a little better actually. He was in and out there a little bit. But, man, what an effort. You know, honestly going in, I would have been really excited about ten batters, getting through Kwan that second time. Best case was getting through Naylor in the middle of the order the second time through. For him to get through two times and then get Kwan out the third time and give us five innings on three days just set us up so well.

Q. What did Clay Holmes show you this series?

AARON BOONE: That he's healthy. You know, I feel like he's throwing the ball really well. Locked in. He's come in in some big spots, and I feel like back a month or so before he had the shoulder, I feel like he started to really get it going a little bit. And definitely I thought he was sharp in the series.

Q. Ultimately, what was the difference in the series, do you think?

AARON BOONE: I don't know. I mean, they are a really good team. They are tough to score against. They pitch really well. They catch the ball. They put so much pressure on you. You know, I think we hit the ball out of the ballpark, which was big for us, and obviously played a big role today.

I felt like our bullpen did the job. Gerrit Cole had two huge starts for us. It was as competitive a series as you can have: Going five games, a little bit of back and forth. They pulled one out late on us. I don't know what necessarily the difference was, but it was a hard-fought, close series.

Q. In turning to Nestor, what gave you the confidence for him on short rest, physically what he brought, mentally what he brought?

AARON BOONE: Just the legend of Nestor. Yeah, I just felt -- I knew, physically I felt like he was good. Had we played last night, he would have played an important role for us. I feel like, in last night's game, in a shorter stint, maybe three, six outs, whatever it may have been. And I know he felt good yesterday.

So I knew he wanted the ball, and I just felt like -- you know, once we got rained out last night, I felt convicted that Nestor was who I wanted to go with, and that sets us up with Jamo full-bore in Game 1 when obviously we've had to use a lot of pitching.

Q. Turning to Houston, what is the challenge of pivoting a couple of hours now toward facing them?

AARON BOONE: Well, I mean, the challenge is we're facing a great team. As far as the quick turnaround, we'll be fine. I mean, that's baseball. We do that all the time. You know, we'll walk in there with some confidence. We know they are great team and rested and ready. We look forward to the challenge.

Q. So you just announced Taillon as the Game 1 starter?

AARON BOONE: Yeah.

Q. Is Hicks going to travel with the team?

AARON BOONE: I don't know.

Q. And are you comfortable at this point starting Stanton in left if you need to?

AARON BOONE: We'll see. We'll have that conversation. Possibly.

Q. And do you have any expectation that Benintendi could be on the roster?

AARON BOONE: I don't think so.

Q. Just because of the background, Nestor says he likes to pitch every game like it's his last. Do you think that mentality lends itself to a do-or-die game?

AARON BOONE: I do. I think his mentality lends itself to a lot of things. What we have always loved about him, even when he was on the shuttle between AAA and here and coming up in spots starting, mopping up in the bullpen, whatever role it may have been, he was always fearless, competitive, enjoyed playing the game. And I think it's critical at this time of year that -- obviously you've got to have that competitive drive, but you've got to have fun playing the game too, and he combines those two things really well.

Q. I believe you might have just answered this, but you said before with an answer, "I knew he wanted to pitch today." I'm assuming that's more than just him saying it; it's you believing something about him, correct? What is it you believe that he will handle a decisive game with the season on the line?

AARON BOONE: All of it. And it doesn't mean you always get the result you want. If he had gone out there and given up a couple, I know he's not going to -- I know he's going to want it. You know, let us know where you are physically, how you came in. We were kind of checking on him the day after he pitched and the day after and then on two days, because last night he was going to play a role.

Just like, man, once we know you're sound physically, yeah, I just knew he's just got that "it" thing about him. I think combines competition with having fun and that right balance. He's always been that way.

So whatever the result he gave us out there -- and obviously he did terrific and gave us more than I probably would have hoped for -- I'm not surprised.

Q. And just one other bookkeeping thing. Marinacci, Mantos or LeMahieu, are any available for you in this series?

AARON BOONE: Potentially, yeah. Potentially a couple of those.

Q. Can you say who?

AARON BOONE: Not yet. We've got to have those conversations. That will be plane conversations that we'll kind of finalize that stuff.

Q. In facing and answering the challenge of back-to-back elimination games, what do you think your team showed people around the country that had not followed it all season about its fortitude, resilience, its heartbeat?

AARON BOONE: I think the guys have done a good job of that all year, and it's obviously something we talk about. You guys hear me talk about it all the time from day one in spring training that ups, downs, challenges, good times, bad times, adversity, it's all coming for you in a season, and it certainly did for us.

Obviously getting off to a great start, and then really hitting some tough times: Injuries, really struggled there over a four- to six-week period. But these guys never stopped believing. It was just like, we'll get through this. And that happens in a long season.

But the message is also, that happens within a game. It happens within a series. Things are going to not go your way, bounce against you, go for you. You have to be able to handle it and keep playing. I thought they did a great job this series of, hey, keep on playing. Fall behind 2-1, Gerrit goes out and sets the tone and answers, and we just kind of kept playing in this series when it was a challenge, when it was difficult.

So whatever happens moving forward, you know, I know we'll be up to the challenge and super competitive.

Q. With Kiner-Falefa, you said he was going to play a role and you had other options. What made you believe he could handle getting back in there so quickly?

AARON BOONE: Just that. He was going to, and knew he would, and he was ready. He was prepared. Last couple days, you know, hasn't sulked at all. It's like, get ready for my chance, and he'll play a big role moving for us, too.

Q. Are any of Marinacci, Mantos or LeMahieu ruled out because they physically cannot do it?

AARON BOONE: None ruled out yet, no.