Yankees veteran — not Aaron Judge — called meeting before ‘must-win’ World Series Game 3

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo has experience with do-or-die World Series speeches. Monday‘s Game 3 isn’t necessarily that for the Yankees, who trail the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-0, but it comes with the same urgency.
So Rizzo — and not captain Aaron Judge — huddled his teammates before the first game at Yankee Stadium with an important message, according to FOX MLB sideline reporter Tom Verducci.
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“Tonight began for the Yankees, the same way 2016 Game 5 did for the Cubs — with a meeting called by Anthony Rizzo,” Verducci said before the game began.
“The meeting was quick. Rizzo was the only one who spoke. And one player said it was a ‘bonding experience.’
“In 2016, the Cubs responded by winning three straight elimination games. Rizzo is treating it the same way tonight. He called this a ‘must-win’ for New York.”
Verducci reported that in 2016, Rizzo needed to inject some humor into the clubhouse, so he quoted his favorite movie lines — without clothes on. The Cubs proceeded to erase a 3-1 World Series deficit against Cleveland and win the World Series for the first time since 1908.
The 2024 edition of this meeting was a bit more serious.
When Yankees manager Aaron Boone was asked before Game 3 if he needed to say anything to his team, he hinted at the players-led meeting, but he did not have to do it himself.
“It‘s a close team. We all talk and talk to each other. Guys got together a little bit for a few minutes,” Boone told reporters. “We‘re ready to go. We‘re excited for this opportunity in Game 3 and obviously understand the importance of it. Can’t wait to see us go do our thing tonight.”
NJ Advance Media’s Randy Miller contributed to this report
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