Before pivotal ALCS Game 4 vs. Astros, Yankees find inspiration – in the '04 Red Sox?
NEW YORK – Desperately cornered by the Houston Astros in this AL Championship Series, the Yankees were willing to seek inspiration in any form.
On Sunday morning, that included revisiting the franchise’s epic collapse in 2004.
With Houston one win away from sweeping the best-of-seven ALCS, Yankees director of mental conditioning Chad Bohling circulated a three-to-four-minute video of the Boston Red Sox’s 2004 comeback to manager Aaron Boone and the Yankees coaching staff.
In turn, Boone said that video was shared with the Yankees players, to emphasize that their task was not impossible.
Of course, for anyone connected to the ’04 Yankees, that historic meltdown against the franchise’s century-plus old rivals is a wound that will never fully heal.
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Boone broke Boston’s hearts with his pennant-winning home run in the 2003 ALCS, but he was an ex-Yankee by 2004, after an offseason basketball injury paved the way for Alex Rodriguez’s acquisition.
Speaking in his office Sunday afternoon, Boone felt the message of hope from Boston’s comeback was the overriding sentiment.
“Just the belief that they had. They had a confidence,’’ Boone said of the ’04 Red Sox, underlining Kevin Millar’s message to his teammates: “Don’t let us win one.’’
After their improbable ALCS comeback, the Red Sox went on to win the franchise’s first World Series since 1918.
With ESPN analyst Eduardo Perez as an intermediary, Boone even face-timed a bit Sunday in his office with David Ortiz, a key member of the '04 Red Sox, whose devasting big hits in that series will forever haunt Yankees Universe.
Boone wouldn't reveal what advice or words of wisdom Big Papi might have provided.
“We’re as far up against it as you can be and not in a great spot,’’ said Boone, with his team down 0-3 in games following Saturday’s 5-0 loss.
“But you can’t get ahead of yourselves either. It starts with the first inning, trying to win pitches and trying to ultimately win a game and at least put a little pressure on them.
“(And then you) start to see what can happen.’’
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: ALCS Game 4: New York Yankees find inspiration in 2004 Boston Red Sox?
