The New York Yankees found themselves on the receiving end last year when they dished out of the playoffs with an 82-80 record in the regular season. Many fans and analysts wrote the team off, with some also calling for long-serving manager Aaron Boone’s head.
However, the front office made radical changes to the roster and came out all guns blazing in the 2024 season. Now, they stand on the cusp of 28th World Series title with Dodgers only hurdle left to cross. Amid this, the Yankees’ ex-bench coach heaped praise on Aaron Boone, who had been under a lot of criticism last year.
Carlos Mendoza Praises Aaron Boone After Yankees Advance To World Series
Carlos Mendoza, former Yankees bench coach and current Mets manager, expressed his pride in Aaron Boone after the Yanks clinched the American League pennant and secured a spot in the 2024 World Series. Mendoza, who had worked closely with Boone for four seasons, understood the immense pressure Boone faced to deliver a World Series appearance, especially given the high expectations from Yankee fans since Boone’s managerial debut in 2018. Despite Boone leading the franchise to multiple 100-win seasons, some fans were quick to call for his dismissal. Hence, now, with the team set to face the Dodgers in their first World Series since 2009, Mendoza couldn’t help but smile for his former colleague. “I am proud of him,” Mendoza said.
Notably, Carlos Mendoza, whose Mets were eliminated by the LA Dodgers in the NLCS, mentioned he had communicated with several Yankees players and staff members after their ALCS victory. Though he didn’t reveal specific names, he shared that five or six players in the starting lineup were among those he reached out to. Besides, Mets closer Edwin Diaz also commented on the Yanks’ success, noting that while he was excited about the city rivals, he had hoped for a Subway Series. The last time the Yankees and Mets met in the World Series was in 2000, and Diaz believed it would have been “really electric” for New York fans to see a repeat of that classic matchup. Ultimately, Mendoza and Diaz were both thrilled for Boone and the Bronx Bombers as they prepared to face the Dodgers in the World Series for the first time since 1981.
Yankee-Dodgers World Series Ultimate Litmus Test For MLB
As MLB gears up for the highly anticipated 2024 World Series between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers, it’s not just the teams or fans that are eager, MLB itself is watching closely. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, this series will serve as a “litmus test” for gauging the sport’s national popularity in 2024.
Passan said this World Series matchup represents a potential turning point for MLB’s broader appeal. He noted that with two storied franchises like the Yankees and Dodgers on the grand stage, the league could see how much interest baseball can still generate on a national level. “I feel we’re going to see the ceiling for Major League Baseball nationally,” Passan said.
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