Former broadcaster and current New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone reached out to Buck Martinez during the 2017 World Series for advice on making the transition from the broadcast booth to the dugout.
Martinez followed a similar career path to Boone, making the jump to broadcasting following his playing career, and eventually landing a job as an MLB manager. He served as the Toronto Blue Jays’ skipper for the 2001 season and was dismissed 53 games into the 2002 campaign.
The biggest adjustment for Martinez in transitioning to managing was adapting to the speed of the game at field level.
“Once I got back into the dugout, it was a reminder of how quick the game is,” Martinez, said in an interview with The New York Post. “It’s a great reminder for my broadcasting career to not be so critical when something happens on the field.
“No matter how long we’ve been in the game, you see something new happen. And then everyone on the bench looks at you and says, ‘What’s the rule on that one?’ I think that’s why it’s important to put together a great coaching staff.”
Boone, who signed a three-year deal with New York, had been working as an analyst for ESPN since 2010. The Yankees will introduce him as their manager Wednesday.
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