Yankees Manager Defies Blue Jays Criticism Ahead ALDS Clash

The Yankees and Blue Jays open their ALDS in Toronto amid heightened tension after Blue Jays broadcaster Buck Martinez declared on Sept. 9 that “the Yankees, they’re not a good team,” a remark Yankees manager Aaron Boone publicly rebuked on the eve of Game 1, saying “Contrary to some thoughts up here, we’re a really good team” and that Martinez is “wrong.” The shot across the bow adds fuel to a rivalry in which Toronto won eight of 13 regular-season meetings and clinched the AL East on the season series tiebreaker after both clubs finished 94-68. New York’s mistakes earlier in the year — among the majors in errors and wild pitches — helped fuel Martinez’s critique, but the Yankees have played much better since that Sept. 9 loss and finished the regular season strongly. Boone called the comments bulletin-board material but stressed the need to focus on performance at playoff time, while Blue Jays and Yankees managers both expect a raucous environment and an intense series. Toronto countered with veteran Kevin Gausman as its Game 1 starter; the Yankees tabbed Luis Gil for Game 1 and penciled Max Fried for Game 2, and Boone said outfielder Cody Bellinger (bruised left heel) should be available. With postseason history between these clubs limited, the matchup combines regular-season familiarity, lingering grievances, and sharpened rosters heading into a best-of-five showdown.