Aaron Boone takes cheeky shot at last-place Red Sox on Talkin' Yanks podcast

Either Aaron Boone proved the Yankees can still be high and mighty from fourth place, or he's about to become the new Nestor Cortes Jr., waking the Red Sox up at the most annoying possible time by diminishing their accomplishments.

With the season winding down, Boone's enlightening weekly appearances on Jomboy and Jake's "Talkin' Yanks" podcast seem likely to be headed towards a conclusion, too. A few weeks back, Jomboy mentioned that he didn't think Boone would be sticking around for recording sessions during the offseason, and with the manager's future still in flux (he's staying tight-lipped, rumor has it he's returning), that's probably still the case.

But Boone, known for being loose in his recurring segment and occasionally testy when pressed, proved he can still dish it out as well as take it before he signs off for good.

On Tuesday's show, Jomboy opened a probing question with, "I'm a disgruntled fan of a last-place team," at which point Boone felt compelled to cut him off and remind him he's not from Boston.

Yankees manager Aaron Boone: "We're not the Red Sox."

Shots. Fired.

Everybody had a good laugh, but the Yankees had better hope the standings hold for a mere six more days before that joke can get truly funny.

The difference between last and fourth is negligible. Neither Boston nor New York will be participating in this year's postseason. The Red Sox fired their GM and the Yankees haven't, but maintaining continuity in New York is arguably a worse decision than opting to start over.

Still, though ... it sure would be nice to finish outside the basement and close the coffin door on your rivals down there, especially after Boston fans got so much joy out of being in fourth to the Yankees' fifth all summer. "You were SUPPOSED to be good, though! And we weren't!" Wait, are you guys the greatest or is this a bridge year? Now I'm lost again. Hopefully, 100 frothing Bostonians hop in my mentions to clarify why sucking in 2019, 2020, 2022, and 2023 was good, actually.

All that remains for the Yankees are three games in Toronto and three in Kansas City (and that Royals team just swept the Astros). Boston will play two at home against the Rays and four on the road in Baltimore, a team with plenty of clinching still left to play for. The Yankees hold a three-game lead on Boston for last place.

Either the dust will settle and Boone will have gotten one final jab in, or he'll oversee a six-game collapse that leaves him further befuddled. No room for error. Play spoiler. Win games. Laugh at Boston.