Aaron Boone 'heartbroken' after second career World Series loss

Even Suzyn Waldman couldn’t believe that the Yankees’ clubhouse didn’t open until more than a half-hour after it was supposed to following Game 5 of the World Series – but there was a good reason: the band of brothers in that room all got a chance to speak about a season that brought the first pennant, but not first title, in 15 years.

“I apologize, but I talked to you through the postseason and this World Series just about the closeness of that room. Really that's what it was all about, just guys pouring their hearts out and being there for one another, loving each other, because obviously this is a very difficult moment for us,” manager Aaron Boone said in his final postgame presser of the year. “You get to this point, as I said to the guys, obviously it stings now. But this is going to sting forever. There were just a lot of heartfelt messages to each other. So I apologize for that. The Dodgers were the better team in this series, but it doesn't take away my pride in this group, what we've been through, what they've gone through, what they've battled through, and the togetherness they have.”

For Boone, it was his second World Series and second loss, the first one of course 21 years ago after his ALCS heroics – and it’s a feeling he wishes on no one.

“I’m heartbroken. It doesn't take away my pride of what that room means to me and what that group forged this year and what we've been through to get here, but I’m heartbroken, and I'm heartbroken for those guys that poured so much into this,” a clearly emotional skipper said. “The ending is cruel. It always is. I haven't had that feeling of celebrating and going home, like many of the guys in there. I'm 51. I poured my life into that. You're chasing that, and when you get that close, it's heartbreaking.”

Boone is ‘a product of his experiences,’ so maybe that goes into what he was feeling in his second World Series trip, after also getting to a pair of ALCS’ as Yankees skipper as well.

“Maybe that feeling in 2003…I can still see the Marlins and hear the Marlins celebrating on our field, and it was one of the most painful moments that I've experienced,” Boone said. “And 2019 in Houston was super painful. With this group – I keep saying it, the closeness of this group, just heartbroken for the room.”

The question is whether Boone, whom the Yankees have a team option on for 2025, will be back, either just for that option year or maybe longer-term…but he’s not ready to go there yet.

“I don’t know…we’ll see,” he said when asked when he starts thinking about his own future.

Unfortunately, as Boone woke up this morning, the offseason had begun after watching the Dodgers celebrate on his field…and the fire only got hotter.