Yankees' World Series-or-bust mentality hasn't been dampened by coronavirus - New York Post

Aaron Boone fully understands that what MLB is attempting to do with a 60-game season is completely different.

The coronavirus made spring training vanish on March 12 and ravaged the tri-state area. It has made a comeback in other parts of the country and could force big-league baseball to be shut down again.

When Boone addresses his players in person for the first time in person since March, as he will Saturday at Yankee Stadium, he will do so in groups to make sure the 50-plus players are social distancing.

He will stress that the players need to hold each other accountable with what they do on the field with effort and off it by attempting to remain safe. The third-year manager will deliver a list of protocols the players need to adhere to, some that will force severe adjustments to their routines.

Boone will be aware of how this week’s tests for COVID-19 went and reiterate the seriousness of trying to first get ready during spring training 2.0 and then navigate a two-month season during a pandemic.

Yet, one chapter of Boone’s message remains the same: If a World Series is played the Yankees expect to win it.

“I feel comfortable with this part is, hey, the reason we are here now doesn’t change. From our goal at the start of spring training with a team we got together here, with a team that has been on the brink and knocked on the door for a few years, with a team with unfinished business. I do feel like we are still a very hungry group and we want to climb to the top of the mountain,’’ Boone said Wednesday on a conference call. “Because circumstances have changed and certainly this season has changed, that goal hasn’t changed. We want to be champions and I know our guys feel the same way. That will be the message that will constantly be enforced.’’

With intake testing going on Wednesday at the Stadium, a bevy of players surfaced. Gleyber Torres, Gio Urshela, Brett Gardner, James Paxton, J.A. Happ, Clint Frazier, Tommy Kahnle and Clarke Schmidt were spotted entering the facility.

Boone said there could be small groups working out informally on Thursday and Friday at the Stadium in front of Saturday’s first full-squad get together. GM Brian Cashman said Tuesday that all 58 members of the roster might not be on hand for Saturday’s activity due to where they were traveling from. Boone said Masahiro Tanaka is in the area.

While it remains to be seen what the quality of the product on the field will look like in a shortened season, Boone said he believes his club will benefit from a strong mental approach.

“I think one of the separators this year is going to be the teams that are able to find that energy, to find that focus and to find that edge on a daily basis in what is going to be unique and challenging circumstances,’’ Boone said. “I do feel like we have a group that is cut out for that. I feel good about the conversations that I have had with guys, where they are at and what their frame of mind is. We are looking forward to getting started on that.’’

Of course, the question remains how long before the COVID-19 hurdles become too high to clear.

“I know it is going to be challenging. There are going to be things on a daily basis that will make playing a little more challenging than obviously it otherwise would,’’ Boone said. “I am not necessarily in the business of trying to predict. Our job is to get ready and we have been working really hard the last several days just trying to get things in order, get a plan together as far as how we want to attack these three weeks [to] build up to the regular season and that is our focus. When we start this weekend as a group is laying a foundation to try and put ourselves in a position to be able to win a championship.’’

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