Members of 2004 Yankees “outraged” by 2022 ALCS pregame decision
If you were one of the many people absolutely flabbergasted by the New York Yankees’ decision to watch a highlight real of their 2004 collapse against the Boston Red Sox before playing a must-win Game 4 in this year’s ALCS, you’re not alone.
Unsurprisingly, members of that 2004 Yankees squad weren’t pleased with the perplexing motivational tactic, which ultimately backfired, as the Houston Astros swept them and are now in the World Series. According to Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay, three players on the pinstriped end of that historic series were “outraged” by the situation:
"“I talked to 3 playerd from the 04 team and they were outraged that their failure was used as inspiration for the ‘22 team. And to make it worse, Eduardo Perez has Aaron Boone FaceTime with David Ortiz.You are going to use the darkest moment in Yankees history? How do you do that? If George was alive someone would be fired for that.If I’m Hal Steinbrenner I would be red hot. You are talking to David Ortiz. You are taking advice for Big Papi?”Michael Kay"
That’s right, they also called upon none other than David Ortiz. Hilarious.
Oh, to be a fly on the wall for that conversation. “Hey David, remember how you walked it off in back-to-back games against us in 04? How do we do that? Hey, stop laughing!”
Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay says members of 2004 team “outraged” over the decision to watch 04 ALCS footage before Game 4 of 2022 ALCS
Kay is absolutely right; George Steinbrenner, the Yankees’ formidable overlord who passed in 2010, would be apoplectic with rage. Then again, he wouldn’t have let things get this far in the first place.
What have the Yankees become over the last decade or so? They collapse each postseason. They hold onto a GM and field manager who bring them nothing but humiliation. You’ll hear no complaints from Red Sox Nation, but it is objectively baffling to anyone who remembers how the Yankees used to be.
It’s interesting to consider how these former Yankees might have felt if the weird endeavor actually turned the tables in New York’s favor in the league championship series. Would they consider it an exorcism of early aughts demons? Considering the Yankees weren’t even playing the Sox, probably not. No one wants to relive their worst moment, especially when it’s not just their worst, but the worst.
The collapse was historic. No team in MLB history had come back from a 3-0 deficit to take a 7-game series, and no team has replicated the feat since.
Maybe the footage should come with the classic disclaimer:
‘Don’t Try This At Home, Kids.’
