 We're going to talk to the manager of the New York Yankees Aaron Boone. His team will begin the 2019 season on Thursday at 1 o'clock against the Orioles at Yankee Stadium. Aaron, it's Michael, Don and Peter. How you doing? I'm doing well. How are you doing guys doing great? So how do you feel about your team as the season begins? Really good You know, obviously dealing with some some injuries to some key guys But we think we're the good news on we feel like we're probably gonna avoid some long-term situations But we also feel like, you know, we have the roster to be able to cover those things up on the short term and feel like the guys that are Ready to go for opening day are really in a good place. I've had a had a good spring by and large I feel like the workload they've had has been good sprinkled with the proper rest So I feel like by and large our guys in a really good place as we get ready for Thursday You better than you were last year. I Think we are. I mean, look, I was sitting here last year thinking we're really good and obviously we were But I do feel like we're a deeper club and you know, even with some of the injuries Significant guys. We're talking about being down right now I still feel like we're we're in a really good place and able to cover that maybe more so that We were this time last year now when you say you're better Does that mean you'll win more games in the regular season you did last year or that you might be in a better position To make a run in the playoffs You never know how it's gonna shake out win total lies. There's there's so many things that go into that But I think we have a chance to be a little bit better of a club. I think we're a little bit more versatile I think we're potentially a little bit more more deep You know, I think our pitching has a chance to be hopefully even a little bit better with some of the additions we've made so Whether that means more wins less Being able to go deeper in the postseason win a championship. I mean now that You know, that's that's what we're setting out to do But we got a long way between now and then to to get to that point But I I feel really strong about who we have Going in starting Thursday 267 home runs last year by the team that's a record in Major League Baseball both judge and stand and told me Individually they think the team will shatter that record. Do you have that same feeling? I? Think we'll hit a lot of home runs you know But I need you know, we want to we want to shatter that win total and in the month of October That's that's our ultimate goal and we want to you know, we want to hoist the championship That's what we're playing for and whether that means we hit a ton more homers or slightly less whatever it may be we our power is is A big thing and what that number ends up being we'll see I know you and Michael have got into the whole Too many home runs sometimes hurt you in the postseason thing because history does show that if you hit a lot of home Runs in the regular season or are too reliant on it that it could hurt you in the playoffs But with everybody trying to hit home runs Aaron, I guess that there's a new way of thinking right? well No, I just Sometimes I I get this is it's one of those issues that riles me up a little bit It's you know, why don't you just get hits with runners and like that's a skill, too That's you we're trying to be the most complete best offensive club we can be you know, but You know, it's not an easy thing to Be the best offensive club, you know, you got to be pretty well rounded I think we have a chance to be there I think some of the additions we've made plus some of the improvements I think guys are continuing to make as all-around hitters will allow us to be that but you know Sometimes getting a big hit the situation off a tough pitcher isn't necessarily a choice as it is you got to be really good With the home runs obviously come a lot of home strikeouts and Aaron judge kind of adjusted to strikes this year He's not going to stride as much Do you think a team could strike out too much is that concern you about your team? Because there's not much negative about this team as far as I could tell the strikeouts concern me a little bit But I guess I guess that's the price of doing business now Well, there's no question. There's a value in being able to put put the ball in play and and that that is a Really good thing. I think we have the ability to improve on You know who we were last year you mentioned judge, you know I think Aaron's one of those guys that went into this winter Having a healthy offseason as opposed to last year when he had the the shoulder issue And he was rehabbing his shoulder after surgery this year He was able to go tanker with some things and work on some things and then he brings it into spring training and and is able to apply It and get results. So You know, he's one of the guys that you know work that looks like he's made adjustments Hopefully that allow him to become an even more well-rounded better player and I feel like a lot of our players Have made some strides in that area. Do you see yourself having to use an opener this year? Are you comfortable with that? Yeah, I think it's possible I'm not even necessarily likely but I you know, it could be really possible here early, especially with you know with CC and Seve down to start the year You know depending on how our pen usage is in the days leading up You know, you could see it here very early in the season, but We'll just kind of see how it unfolds, but it's certainly a possibility after I left Tampa You announced that you know her mom would get a start and says it would be in the bullpen says that a great great spring training Why did you go that route? Well, we feel really good about all three That's a her mom and Lowe is again for that matter We feel like that there can really be Dominant guy in the role we envision him in kind of that long man Picking the right lanes for him within a lineup for multiple innings out of the pen on a given day There could be a situation though where he pops in and gets a starter or works in an opener kind of situation You know, but being out of options You know, it's hard to keep him built up as a starter Especially as we move forward when we get fully healthy and we have all our guys back It's gonna be hard to keep him built up where with her mom and the wise ago Probably a little easier to to keep them built up over the long haul now You don't have to get specific Aaron, but I just wonder when you look back at 2018 Do you say to yourself now with that year of experience and look at specific situations ago? You know what now I know better I would have done that differently now that I'm a little bit more experienced No, I don't I don't necessarily look back on it because every single day of this job has been a Reflection and evaluation and take take stock up of what's gone on. So I I just feel like it's been this Living thing that's never never stopped, you know, the offseason came and I kind of dove right in to you know being a part of our our offseason and You know planning for spring training in the regular season and being a part of you know some of the moves We we make in the winter time and and just so the job never stops So I don't know if I You know had a day where I sit and reflect on things because we kind of do that good and bad every single day During the season Tyler Wade was not happy when you told him he didn't make the team after the acquisition of Touchman from the the Rockies There's part of me that thinks you know, I don't mind a player reacting like that. What did you think? Yeah, that's how I feel. Yeah, I mean this is look Tyler Wade is Really highly thought of player by us In our organization. He's worked really hard to to become an even more versatile player He worked really hard on his offense. He came in ready to go. He came in and had a really good spring and the reality was Was probably a few days ago set to make our club So yeah, I mean I want a player to be a little ticked off or frustrated but now it's it's all you got to be able to focus that That frustration in the right way and go out handle handle your business because We still think he's gonna play an important role for us this year at some point and and hopefully And what is the championship season? He's gonna be a part of that so he needs to keep his focus and continue to work on his game and You know, there's there's a scenario where even as we get healthier you can envision him on the roster In a lot of different ways. All right So with Hicks out at the beginning of the season with the bad back is your outfield most of the time Stanton Gardner and judge? Yes, in that order. Okay, and then your DH will either be void or bird Yeah, it'll probably be in there. Yeah, it could be void and bird You know if you want to get talk man in there a day, you know, obviously we'll spell guardian a little bit But you know if you wanted to spell one judge or stand or give them a dh day Talk man, we feel good about being able to play all three and and being a guy that that also has them upside Offensively. All right now since it didn't happen that you had to choose between bird and void Because of the injury to Hicks. Why don't you just tell us who was gonna be the starting first baseman? Here we go Three two one go Well, just stay tuned I've actually been it's what's one of the things I've been doing a lot today. It's kind of you know, especially when when When when the Orioles switch from cop to Cachner, you know it changes things in my mind a little bit But trying to kind of in my head and even on paper a little bit kind of laying out the first several days of our season How I visioned it When I had vision given a guy a rest and I Would say Early on here there they're both gonna play a lot now about that that that's fine And I know that I knew that you wouldn't tell me which one would have made it But did one of them separate themselves from the other because they both had really good springs. All right. No, I would say The way I put it is we're looking at two impact first base We're looking at two of the top half in the league first baseman. That's that's what I'm watching right now I'm watching, you know, we saw what Luke Voight was able to do In the second half of the season last year and he's come in and looked every bit of that player the guy that just Controls the strike zone powered all fields the ability to drive the ball the other way which is so big in our yard I feel like it's made improvements on the defensive side of the ball He's worked really hard in that area over the winter But the first time I watched Greg Bird take batting practice before Can't even started over at Hines two swings in I was like right away This is a different guy and he looked like he's looked like that guy every single day in spring training There's just a different way. He's impact in the ball, you know, he's he's added weight I believe in a good way significantly bigger than he was last year and clearly Beyond some of the, you know, physical things that were limiting him a little bit last year He's in a great place and I feel I feel great about both guys What's our real it's the realistic expectation for Brett Gardner? That he's gonna be a really good player for us, you know, hopefully You know, we'll Give him his days off here and there But we're expecting a really good player and even though, you know, some of his numbers fell off a little bit last year You know, I think some of the underlying things suggest that it wasn't that far off from where he was the year before The homeruns were a little bit proud but the way he was impacting the ball Night in and night out were similar, you know, I feel like with some of the injuries we had last year We probably had to lean on them a little more than we would have liked So there probably was some some wear down a little bit late in the year And hopefully this is a year that we can we can protect him a little bit more Give him his days off because we think he's going to be a really good player for us on both sides of the ball Aaron Boone, the manager is our guest. I was a little concerned, Aaron And one of the last games that I did down in spring training that The velocity wasn't there for Chapman You thought it was because he either he had been used for two innings a couple of days before Is there any concern that he's he's okay No, I feel I feel like he's he's good. He threw yesterday in a minor league game and was basically 95 96 And I think he's a guy that at this point in spring, I think, you know, you get into the to the To the big big league games with the third deck and it's go time And I think that adds a couple miles an hour now Now I think it's are we going to see the 103 104 miles an hour A role is Chapman. I don't know. Maybe maybe not But do I think he's healthy and you know, he's going to be A dominant reliever for us. Yes All right before we let you go, obviously, this is a very very good team how star marizan yesterday thinks it's better than last year You think it's better than last year for what is worth. I think it's better than last year But what's your biggest concern? What do you fear most with this season other than injuries? Um Well, I just think first and foremost Guys that we have injured right now, you know, those are really important players for us and impact players for us So it's important that we do get them back at some point, um, you know, because You know, especially when you look at our rotation right now, uh with sevby and cc starting on the on the injured list, excuse me um, you know, well We're a little thinner there, obviously So, you know, we can't afford to have a bunch of guys go down in that in that regard But um, I feel I feel great about where our guys are at and I feel like their frame of mind is really good I feel like it's a hungry group with with their intentions in the right place and Um, we're excited to go out and show the world that you must be pretty excited about sitting next to me during the Welcome home dinner tomorrow, right? Yes, I am Are we right next to each other? Uh, we weren't last year. So I requested it again. I'm sure you did I understand the part of the lots of condiments out on that table. No, I meant no, wait, man I understand that you've got to get along with the players. It does not extend to the announcers We before you became manager. We got along don. Yeah, but I've known you for 20 years I wouldn't describe myself as excited to sit next to you during luncheon Wow. Well, I'm excited. I am genuinely excited. See that's an issue. No because you're a good guy. I think that's a problem No, he's a good human being Don. I'm like you The only thing it worries me about is that maybe Aaron's social life isn't great. That's right The only thing he can do is so much better. Sprinkle. He's working too hard. Yeah, you're working way too hard I will see you tomorrow. Thank you. All right. Take care guys