When the New York Yankees had their backs against the wall and were down 0-3 in the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros, mental skills coach Chad Bohling did something that would earn a lot of criticism.
Yankees manager Aaron Boone admitted that Bohling passed out highlights of the Boston Red Sox’s legendary comeback against the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS to fire up the players.
It was the single most painful loss of the Yankees history: they were up 3-0 and seemingly headed to the World Series, but they became the first team to throw away such a lead and lose the series.
It’s safe to say Derek Jeter, the Yankees legendary shortstop who was around in those days, didn’t like the initiative.
“I don’t know the context of it…” he said at first, but gave away the real quote after that: “I still don’t like to talk about it myself. It makes me sick to this day thinking about it.”
Derek Jeter’s reaction to the Yankees viewing 2004 ALCS highlights: pic.twitter.com/I4dNRufgIm
— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) October 27, 2022
One Of The Most Painful Losses In Yankees History
That loss stuck in the Yankees’ minds and souls for years.
They wouldn’t return to the World Series until 2009, when they won for the last time.
Still, that loss is still in the minds of those who watched the entire seven games.
Former Yankees criticized Bohling’s idea, as well as media members and analysts.
Michael Kay called the Yankees tone deaf for doing it.
In the end, it didn’t work: while the Yankees played better in Game 4 last Sunday, they were still swept by the Astros.
If Jeter can’t watch or think about that series, imagine how Yankees fans who lived it would feel.
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