Boone, a Red in 2001, recalls ‘pride’ in playing after 9/11
Twenty years ago, Aaron Boone was the starting third baseman for the Cincinnati Reds. He was with the team in Chicago for a series against the Cubs when the 9/11 attacks happened, and he can still recall specific details about the whirlwind of thoughts, emotions and feelings he had that day.
“I remember vividly being on the corner of Michigan Avenue and whatever street the Westin is on in Chicago. It was a hot summer night, I remember Pokey Reese and I just standing on the corner talking, having no idea what the next couple of days were going to be.”
When baseball resumed on September 18, the Reds played a game in front of their home crowd. With some time to reflect and gather his thoughts before playing the game, Boone recalled the scene in front of him at Cinergy Field as inspiring.
“There’s some pride in there,” Boone said of suiting up to play for a healing country. “A few days had unfolded. You saw the acts of heroism, you saw the best of a nation in a lot of ways. You saw people come together in the best of ways. On such a dark and tragic day, it revealed some of the best in humanity.”
As for the task in front of him on Saturday, a game in New York City against the Mets on the dark day’s 20th anniversary, Boone knows that it will be unlike any other game his team has played.
“It’s going to be a very emotional night in the ballpark,” Boone predicted, saying the drive into Citi Field was eerie. “I’m sure there’s going to be a lot of people in the ballpark who have tragic and intimate stories related to this day. Baseball’s been intertwined in that a little bit. I’m sure it will bring back some sad memories and moments. There’s going to be tears in the ballpark.”
Acknowledging that many of the Yankee players were in grade school or living in other countries when 9/11 happened, Boone said the ceremonies and solemnity of Saturday will be a good showcase of the full scope of being a Major League player.
“There’s things that come up over the course of a season that allow you to put things in perspective,” Boone offered. “This is bigger than baseball, this is bigger than us. We have a role to play, we certainly understand the importance of these games. But I think it’s important every now and then to have things that put things into perspective.”
SUNDAY STARTER
Boone and the Yankees still have not committed to a starting pitcher for Sunday’s game. When asked about it, Boone mentioned a few pitchers by name but remained cryptic.
“We’ll see. Get through (Saturday) and then kind of finalize,” Boone said of the club’s thought process. “Could be Clarke Schmidt, could be Andrew Heaney, could be a combination or some kind of bullpen (game).”
In other pitching news, Gerrit Cole threw a bullpen session on Saturday and is expected back early next week, with Boone pointing to Tuesday as a potential return date. Domingo German is scheduled to pitch in a minor league game on Tuesday, though Boone admitted he wasn’t sure which level it would be at. He also mentioned that Jameson Taillon is still feeling sore and there has not been a definitive update on him.
NO GARY
Gary Sanchez was not in the Yankees’ lineup for Saturday, one night after he had a confusing and infuriating play at the plate gone awry. According to Boone, though, that is not the reason for Sanchez’s benching.
“Just getting Higgy back in there,” Boone said, explaining why Kyle Higashioka got the start instead. “We felt like tonight was the night to have him in there.”
DAVIS SENT PACKING
Prior to Saturday’s game, the Yankees announced that outfielder Jonathan Davis had been outrighted off the Major League roster and sent to Triple-A.
Davis only made 18 plate appearances during his time with the Yankees this season, which began on August 4. He had one hit, one walk and five strikeouts. Used as more of a speed and defense player, Davis played 47 innings in the Yankees’ outfield, exclusively in center and left.