NHL great Bowman says Yanks’ Boone right to expect a lot

By: Mark Didtler, The Associated Press Posted: 2:15 PM CST Saturday, Feb. 15, 2020

TAMPA, Fla. - Yankees manager Aaron Boone is embracing the enhanced high expectations after the addition of ace Gerrit Cole to his 103-win team.

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TAMPA, Fla. - Yankees manager Aaron Boone is embracing the enhanced high expectations after the addition of ace Gerrit Cole to his 103-win team.

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Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 15/02/2020 (2083 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

TAMPA, Fla. – Yankees manager Aaron Boone is embracing the enhanced high expectations after the addition of ace Gerrit Cole to his 103-win team.

Nine-time Stanley Cup-winning coach and baseball fan Scotty Bowman agrees with the approach.

“He had a good young team last year and they’re all back, and now they added,” Bowman said. “So, how can he not be like he’s got a good shot at winning. It’s got to give them a lot of confidence.”

New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone signs autographs during a spring training baseball workout Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Bowman won five of his titles, including four in a row from 1976-79, in Montreal, where expectations rival those in New York.

But it takes more than talent to win it all. Perseverance, commitment and sometimes luck play roles, too.

“There’s no magic formula,” the 86-year-old Bowman said.

Currently a Chicago Blackhawks senior adviser, Bowman lives in Florida and is a regular at spring training games.

The Yankees haven’t won the World Series since 2009. New York captured the AL East and swept Minnesota in the division series before losing to Cole and the Astros in the ALCS last year during an injury-filled season.

“It’s been important for me, for us to kind, of embrace that … maybe even this year to a different level,” Boone said. “I think that’s fair. In one of my first messages to the guys is, we’ll embrace that every single day because those expectations don’t go away especially when you play in New York.”

New York had 30 players make a combined 39 trips to the injured list last year. The Yankees set a big league record for sidelined players, topping the 28 on the 2016 Los Angeles Dodgers.

“We’re going to hear about that all the time and you’ve got to be able to deal with it and you’ve got to be able to play with those kinds of expectations,” Boone added. “That’s my intention.”

Cole grew up a Yankees’ fan and understands what they expect.

“The relationship that this team has with its fans is one based on accountability and honesty and trying to win a championship every year,” Cole said. “I’m just excited to be able to try and live up to that everyday.”

Gerrit Cole was signed to a $324 million, nine-year contract during the off-season.

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