New York Post

Boone: ALCS loss ‘will stick with you forever’

- By DAN MARTIN

The World Series starts in Houston on Tuesday night. Aaron Boone had his eyes on having it open in The Bronx.

But after the Yankees lost in dramatic fashion to the Astros in Game 6 of the ALCS, the Yankee manager was back to work at a quiet Stadium Tuesday morning.

While the Yankees are already plotting what they hope to accomplish this offseason, Boone is still thinking about how it ended.

“Life goes on,’’ Boone told The Post outside Yankee Stadium. “But this will stick with you forever.’’

The Yankees had their chance to force a Game 7 when DJ LeMahieu tied Game 6 with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth before Aroldis Chapman allowed a seriesclin­ching homer to Jose Altuve in the bottom of the inning.

Although Boone won’t get over the end of the 2019 season anytime soon, he said he’s already moving on to 2020.

Asked when the team would start planning for how to end the title drought that has lasted longer than a decade, Boone said: “We already have.’’

Those plans include whether to target high-prof ile starting pitching such as Houston’s World Series Game 1 starter, Gerrit Cole, what to do about the left side of the infield with Miguel Andujar coming off shoulder surgery, Gio Urshela having faded down the stretch and shortstop Didi Gregorius, about to enter free agency for the first time, coming off a disappoint­ing season.

Boone’s next decision, though, will be whether to watch the World Series between the team that knocked out his team — the Astros — and the Nationals, where his father, Bob, is a senior adviser to Washington general manager Mike Rizzo.

“I’m not sure if I’ll watch,’’ Boone said. “I always do. I did. This one, I don’t know.”

It’s the second time in three years the Yankees have been knocked out of the playoffs by the Astros. They lost to Houston in seven games in the ALCS two years ago. Not long after, Joe Girardi was let go and Boone came on the job.

Nothing similar is expected this time around, but the Yankees certainly won’t stand pat after suffering through their first decade without a World Series appearance since 1910-19.

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