Yankees Notebook: Aaron Boone talks tough losses, handling team’s struggles

ATLANTA — Shortly after the Yankees suffered a ninth-inning implosion and a loss to the Marlins on Sunday, Aaron Boone spent some time watching videos of his players’ postgame interviews.

Asked why, the manager said that he loves the YES Network on Monday. Yankees play-by-play man Michael Kay was sitting next to Boone when he cracked the joke.

In all seriousness, Boone said that he usually watches the postgame interviews, as he likes to see how players answer questions in the moment.

On Sunday, Gerrit Cole, Aaron Judge and Clay Holmes — whose meltdown handed Miami an 8-7 win — all used the word “flush” when describing how the Yankees needed to move on from yet another Worst Loss of the Year contender. On Monday, Boone added that the team just needs to “Keep going. It’s what we do. I know that’s hard for people to understand.”

“They have a hard time answering it because that’s what you do,” the skipper continued. “It’s what being a major league athlete is. It’s obviously not gone how we want it to. It’s harder when it’s not going great. But you keep going and you keep working. And that’s what I know this group will continue to do, and hope we can catch fire at some point to make it interesting.”

While Boone is still holding out hope for a hot streak, the Yankees woke up five games out of a wild card spot with 44 games to go on Monday. On Sunday, he acknowledged that time isn’t on the Yankees’ side, and that was before beginning a three-game series with the Braves, the best team in baseball.

With a 60-58, last-place record, the Yankees have rarely looked like a playoff team this season.

“It’s not fun when you’re a couple games over .500,” Boone said. “It’s been a slog. It’s been a grind. It’s not been how we drew it up. So there’s always, on a given day, frustration in that when you get home. It’s a lot funner when you’re shaking hands every day and winning.”

While things haven’t gone the Yankees’ way this season, Boone said that players haven’t wavered in their mindsets or their preparation. He added that it’s imperative that they stay consistent in that regard, no matter what the standings say.

“I want our guys to be — as a team and as individuals — that no matter what’s going on in your life, in your season, we come grind it out every day,” Boone said. “We come compete every day. We come ready to go every day. So that’s what I try and pay attention to and make sure we’re all in that place, especially when it’s not going great.”

THE BEST DON’T REST

The Braves had played 117 games entering Monday’s series-opener. Atlanta stars Ronald Acuña Jr., Ozzie Albies, Austin Riley and Matt Olson had played in every single one of them.

Boone, whose Yankees go to great lengths to rest players, called that stat “pretty amazing,” but he added that all of those players are in their 20s, “so it’s feasible.”

Acuña Jr. is 25, while Albies and Riley are 26. Olson, on pace to hit 60 home runs, is 29.

While the other three were in Monday’s lineup, Albies wasn’t, as he is dealing with hamstring discomfort.

SEVERINO STARTING

Asked if Luis Severino is definitely starting on Tuesday, Boone said, “Luis is starting tomorrow.”

Severino has had an abysmal year, recording an 8.06 ERA over 63.2 innings. The Yankees used an opener for him his last time out on Aug. 9, but that didn’t help. Severino gave up four earned runs over two innings against the White Sox that day.

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