Aaron Boone is unsure New York Yankees will catch up to Houston Astros in the 2023 season
Aaron Boone, the manager of the New York Yankees, has outlined who he believes will be the biggest obstacle to his team taking home the AL Pennant in 2023.
By almost all measures, the New York Yankees were the best team in 2022. The team's firepower was on full display as they hit 254 home runs, more than any other team in baseball. This was mainly due to players like Anthony Rizzo and home run king Aaron Judge.
Speaking to the New York Post on Wednesday, Boone was aware that the Houston Astros had been the team to eliminate the Bronx Bombers in three of the last six postseasons.
Boone on whether he believes that the #Yankees have “closed the gap” with the #Astros https://t.co/Uq011IO2Dz
"Boone on whether he believes that the #Yankees have 'closed the gap'with the #Astros" - @ Marly Rivera
Referring to his team's apparent inability to get past the Astros, Boone said to the Post:
“We got a long way to go to even get that opportunity to find out if we get to play in the playoffs and have that crack again. I feel like that’s our expectation."
The Houston Astros eliminated the New York Yankees in a straight sweep in last year's ALCS. The Astros were able to severely hamper the notoriously potent Yankees bats, outscoring them 18-8 over four games. Aaron Judge hit only .063 in the series with no home runs or RBIs.
The regular season was massively successful. The team finished with a record of 99-63, winning the AL East. The team easily rolled over the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS.
The fans at the @astros' watch party in Houston were HYPE after Alex Bregman's game-winning single to complete the ALCS sweep of the Yankees 🔊
NTT #BallparkCam | #LevelUp | #Postseason https://t.co/SXVBjwcBpM
"Fans as the @astros ' watch party in Houston were HYPE after Alex Bregman's game-winning single to complete the ALCS sweep of the Yankees" - @ MLB Network
The Houston Astros beat the Philadelphia Phillies in the World Series, capturing their second title in six seasons. Following the series, there was an abiding feeling among Yankees fans that their team would have captured everything if they had succeeded in getting past the ALCS.
Aaron Boone and the New York Yankees have their work cut out for them in 2023
As good as the Yankees were, the Astros were just better in 2022. From ERA to batting average, the Astros did not have the glamor the Yankees ran with but were quietly able to get it done.
It does indeed seem like if the Yankees can find a way to gain an edge over the Astros, the entire AL will belong to them in this upcoming season.