Tino: This team looks like ’96 champs

When Tino Martinez watches the Yankees these days, it’s like he hopped into Marty McFly’s DeLorean. It’s suddenly 1996, a mixture of young, upand- coming stars and established veterans coming together for a magical season.

Instead of young players blossoming such as Derek Jeter, Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera, there are Gary Sanchez, Aaron Judge and Luis Severino. Instead of veterans Charlie Hayes, John Wetteland and Mariano Duncan, there are Chase Headley, Brett Gardner and David Robertson. Both versions feature lockdown bullpens and quality starting rotations.

“Just the way they play,” the former Yankees first baseman said Wednesday when asked about the comparison. “Nobody expected anything out of them. They’re young kids. They just came out and didn’t care what people said or wrote about them. They played hard every single day. They found ways to win.”

Two series remain for these Yankees to match the group from 21 years ago, but few predicted them to reach this point at all, especially falling behind two games to none in the ALDS against the defending American League champion Indians. The 1996 Yankees won 92 games and claimed the AL East, while this unit won 91 games and won the first AL wild card.

“They’ve played great all year long. They’re fun to watch,” Martinez said at Derek Jeter’s Turn 2 Foundation Dinner at Cipriani on Wall Street. “They’re young and aggressive. It’s a great team. They’ve played very well this postseason.”