Aaron Boone
Sometimes it takes time to reach your potential.
Hopefully, one of my gifts will be that I'll be able to, you know, say something that's I guess considered critical without being a jerk.
I don't think I know everything.
Hopefully I live my life one way.
As human beings, we all fall down and all fall short.
I've had a pretty good run, and I wouldn't really change anything. I've definitely had my share of injuries, but I've embraced that and it's part of it.
My wife is really good at making sure we have a schedule or a routine every day, with the kids having to do all of their schoolwork and making sure we get our exercise in.
I really loved playing third base.
I like food.
Sometimes you got to get knocked down, but there's a lot more satisfaction climbing the ladder again when you've been knocked off.
An injury can wipe out a season in a hurry if you're forcing a guy more than they're probably ready for early on in the season.
Wrigley is special because of the people there. It's everything from the people there who enjoy baseball. It's the Midwest, Chicago and just embracing all that comes from the charm on the field.
I think a great culture can look a lot of different ways. Sometimes it's guys that get along great and it's a good, solid, healthy work environment.
I understand what it is to be a Yankee. Expectations are ramped up even more.
Look, I think everyone that goes in the playoffs, there's pressure in these games. There's a lot on the line, there's a lot to play for, you want to do well, and you're going up against the best of the best and great opponents.
My childhood hero is Mo Cheeks of the 76ers, No. 10. One of my all time favorites.
The game's littered with people that weren't always the high pick or the top prospect.
If I ever have to go from third base to catcher, it might be time to pack it in. Catcher - that's a really dumb position.
I guess when I consider my playing career, I think of No. 17. So when No. 17 was available with the Yankees, I was like, I'll take that.
I don't see myself as any speed-burner or anything, I think Rickey Henderson's records are safe. But I think I'm someone who knows how to run the bases.
Sometimes with young pitchers, they'll kind of overdo it or overthrow a little bit.
I'm blessed in that we have a great home and I'm surrounded by my family.
Sometimes there's nothing worse than when you see an analyst that's being a homer or, you know, just unwilling to criticize something.
I've had an interesting career.
At the end of the day, I have a job to do, and that's to try and help us be the best we can be. And that's what we'll continue to work to do.
My message always going into the playoffs is no matter what kind of run you go on, you're gonna have ups and downs, you're gonna have good plays, you're gonna have a mistake here and there, and my message is always the next play is the most important.
I've been going to the ballpark since I was 3 or 4 years old.
Certainly, it's hard to think that anyone could replace Aaron Judge and, again, hopefully it doesn't come to that. Hopefully we get to the point where he's back in pinstripes for his entire career, like I believe it should be.
You have to be able to get yourself off the mat.
I'm excited about being drafted, it's a neat feeling.
Gary Sanchez out of your lineup is a big deal.
Some teams, I think it's very clear. Like, 'OK, this is the Opening Day starter. It all slots in kind of well.'
Since I was a little kid, I've always watched people intently and tried to mimic them. It's fair to say that all of that has influenced who I am as a player and as an adult.
Hopefully I'm part of creating an environment that a player feels like he can come in and be himself.
I love LeSean McCoy and Le'Veon Bell - watching kind of the art form of which they run the football with, I really enjoy that.
I'm a guy that has tended to buy into all the analytics that we have going on.
I've been amazed at how many people love the Red Sox or the Yankees - or hate them - there's not much in between there.
I do feel like the bigger the game, the more that's on the line, usually the better Gleyber is.
I always had these romanticized thoughts that I was going to coach high school football one day.
I can't tell you how many times I've walked by a TV and looked at a guy and said, 'Hmmm.' I've done that many times. It's one of those little things that can help you be better, or even get you out of a slump.
The more prepared, the more you know your guys, the more you know your strengths and weaknesses of guys, all that goes into what comes out in the game, right?
Certainly, it's hard to think that anyone could replace Aaron Judge.
I think there's sometimes great cultures where there's some angst and friction even.
The timing of the All-Star break usually tends to be a good thing.
I want to be somebody that is known as a smart manager that makes solid decisions, that is prepared.
I don't really prepare things necessarily. I have some ideas that I want to make sure I get across to our guys. But then when I stand up in front of our guys, whenever I do that - whether it's at different times during the season, or certainly at the start of spring training - I want it to be from the heart, and unscripted.
When that's happening, when your starting pitchers are consistently going out there and getting you through the middle innings, it just sets you up so well. That serves the bullpen well; that allows bullpen guys to be in roles that they should be in, not picking up slack.
It's great to have a small place in their history, all that the Yankees mean and everything, that's awesome.
I've learned, but we're constantly trying to learn and evaluate from every situation I've been in.
We want to go out and be a champion, and it adds for a lot of motivation when you know what that prize is.