Meredith Marakovits on ‘most difficult’ thing about Yankees’ trade deadline, YES career highlights

YES clubhouse reporter Meredith Marakovits took a break from asking questions to answering some from Post columnist Steve Serby:

Q: What would you tell Yankees fans freaking out over their recent skid?

A: It’s a long season. As much as fans might hate that answer, it is a long season. You look at how bad that skid was, and the Yankees, after the putrid month of June, entered Baltimore only two games back in the division. There’s still a lot of talent on that team, they’re gonna have guys that are coming back from injury — yes, the roster has holes, every roster has holes. But curious to see who they get back from the IL, and what the organization does at the (trade) deadline, they always do something. So I would not hit the panic button just yet with 60-plus games to play.

Q: Brian Cashman?

A: He’s been the general manager of the New York Yankees for a very long time for a reason. The most impressive thing about Brian is he’s not super reactionary. Whereas in this market, with this fan base, knowing the expectations, it would be very easy to be very reactionary when things don’t go right. But I think the fact that he sticks to his plan — whether it works or not and how you want to evaluate that, it’s a different story — but he has conviction in his plan.

Q: Do you expect him to do something at the trade deadline?

A: He’ll do something. The most difficult thing right now is the fact that with the expanded playoffs, there’s so many more teams that are not yet out of it, so there’s not as much inventory on the market, which means in order to get something done, you’re gonna have to pay a lot more. Wanting to do something and being able to pull something off are totally different.

Q: And what would you say to Yankees fans who freak out about Aaron Boone?

A: I would say that he’s respected in that clubhouse. I think Yankees fans want to see Aaron, after a tough loss, be fiery and pound the desk and call out players. That’s not Aaron Boone. That’s not his personality. He very much is a stay-the-course guy. He has his players’ back. And because of that the players definitely respect him. While I understand the frustration on behalf of the fan base, I most certainly do, that’s just not the way he’s gonna react.

Q: What enabled Aaron Judge to deal with the pressure of the (2022) home run chase and what was it like for you watching it?

A: I think his demeanor in general. He tries to be the same every day. If he’s feeling the external pressure, I don’t think he’s ever gonna let you see it. You won’t know it, and I think part of the reason he has had so much success not only that year but over the years is just not trying to get too high or get too low. Which, I think in this sport, is probably much easier said than done. That year in particular, and even some of this year, you felt like every time he stepped to the plate, he was gonna do something great. You just expected it. And he delivered. And from a YES perspective, it felt like that final month of the season we were covering a World Series every day, because there was that much attention on it, not only in the New York area, but nationally.

Q: Would you be surprised if he broke the record this year?

A: Nothing would surprise me with him.

Q: Your very first Judge interview?

A: He got called up, he was a lot younger, I was a lot younger (laugh). We were sitting in the Yankees dugout; I believe, and it was the day that they were honoring the 1996 championship team, a Derek Jeter team, and it was almost like the passing of the torch because later that day Judge and (Tyler) Austin homered back-to-back. I remember a mild-mannered guy, and just excited to be there.

Q: Juan Soto?

A: It is hard to believe that that man is only 25 years old based on how good he is. You forget sometimes that he’s just 25. He’s been in the league for a while, he’s had unbelievable success and he’s just wise beyond his years in the batter’s box, and it’s been so fun to watch.

Q: What have you observed about his relationship with Judge?

A: I think he’s fit in great. It seems like they get along well. It seems like they talk a lot. Obviously they play next to each other in the outfield; so you see what I see in the way they celebrate after games and after big catch after big catch. I think they’ve been a sounding board for each other.

Q: Anthony Volpe?

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A: A guy living out his dream. I know he had a rough play in Baltimore to close out the second half, but watching him play defense this year, I think he’s even better than he was last year. People forget how young he is as well, and he’s gonna be an asset to that Yankees team for a long time.

Q: Gerrit Cole?

A: He’s intense. An unbelievable pitching mind. Watching his mind kind of work, not only when he breaks down his start, but when he watches other people’s starts, is something to see. I think he’s been an unbelievable asset to other arms in that pen and in the rotation, and I think he loves that aspect of it as well, being able to use the knowledge he’s gained over his career and pass that along to other people.

Q: Ben Rice?

A: Fun to watch. Hasn’t looked overmatched. His three-home run game was awesome. Has a childlike like joy about him when he plays but conducts himself like he’s been there before.

Q: What is it like for you covering a Subway Series?

A: It’s nice to see both fan bases get super involved. It’s even better if both teams are playing well, but the remarkable thing about the Subway Series, even if the teams aren’t playing well, both fan bases still show up. It’s guaranteed that the crowd’s gonna get loud.

Q: What has it been like being doused on the field?

A: Well, it’s a good reminder that I haven’t completely lost my first step, but we’re close. It’s part of the gig sometimes, I’ll call it an occupational hazard but a fun one at that. Look, if I’m getting doused on the field, it means the Yankees are playing good baseball, and they’re having fun, and it makes my job fun.

Q: What drives you?

A: I want to be great at what I do.

Q: Is it a fun job?

A: It is. It’s a lot of work and a lot of hours, but in the grand scheme of things, Yankee Stadium is essentially my home office. How bad could that be?

Q: Is there pressure?

A: No. I think certain moments are important, and there are certain games, just like players, that you’re probably a bit more excited for than others, but I believe in the preparation, and I don’t necessarily feel pressure because I’m just doing my job, essentially.

Q: How would you characterize your style?

A: I like to focus on the facts. I think it depends on the situation. There are times where you could have some fun, and then there are times where things are more serious and you approach it that way.

Q: What do you hope the viewers say about you?

A: I hope they think that I am not only factual but I give them information that they don’t have otherwise. I hope they feel like I’m an extension of the clubhouse and I’m bringing them closer to the team.

Q: Michael Kay?

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A: I love working with Michael Kay. I think he’s smart, I think he’s witty, and he’s incredibly good at his job. He’s had unbelievable calls over the years, and he’s been an advocate for me, which I’m appreciative of, and he’s been a great friend as well.

Q: Paul O’Neill?

A:. One of a kind. He’s lighthearted and funny, but can be serious when he needs to be. Great at breaking down a swing.

Q: David Cone?

A: Unbelievably smart baseball man. Does a great job of blending old-school baseball with the analytic side, and another huge advocate of mine.

Q: John Sterling?

A: I just said that Paul was one of a kind (laugh), but now I don’t know … Can I take that back? John is unique. … He just makes me smile. For 12-plus years, seeing John every day made me smile. That voice is iconic. He’s great.

Q: You had met Jeter previously when you interviewed him for the first time.

A: I remember he walked up me, and said, “Hey Meredith,” shook my hand and said, “I’m Derek Jeter,” and I just smiled at him and laughed, like yeah, of course, I know exactly …. like if I got this job and I don’t know who Derek Jeter is, we are in a world of trouble. He kind of just eased the situation. I can’t remember what I asked him or how the interview went. I’m sure I was nervous. I know it was in the Rays dugout, we opened the season in Tampa. And the craziest thing about that was I was still covering the Sixers for Comcast, so I had flown to Florida like four times in a week. … My first day and literally my first thing I’d ever done for YES was essentially interviewing Derek Jeter.

Q: The key to being a good interviewer?

A: Being prepared and listening.

Q: Favorite single interview?

A: I would say looking back the Jeter final game was memorable. You could feel the energy and emotion at the Stadium that night, I remember asking my first question, and then you could literally hear a pin drop as soon as he said his first words. I remember the magnitude of the moment and what that meant to Yankees fans. It was an honor to be able to do that, a moment that will live in Yankees history.

Q: Mariano Rivera’s Farewell Tour?

A: The thing that stood out to me about that is the way that it ended. I mean, talk about trying to script an ending and having what reality came to be probably better than anything you could have scripted with Andy (Pettitte) and Derek coming out to get him. I remember just the emotion of that day, Metallica was at the Stadium. It was just an insane day all the way around, and a very cool ending to an absolutely unbelievable career.

Q: Pettitte?

A: He’s the best. He’s a great interview and a class act. I was fortunate to cover him in his final year, and I’ll never forget his final outing where we were in Houston, obviously he spent time in Houston, he lives outside of Houston. It was nine innings and that was the way it ended. I remember talking to him briefly before I did the interview on the field saying “Congratulations, that’s unbelievable,” and (laugh) he was basically like, “I can’t believe that just happened.” He’s a wealth of pitching knowledge, and it’s great to see him back with the organization helping some of the arms.

Q: What makes Suzyn Waldman a New York institution?

A: I think the fact that she has covered the New York Yankees for the length of time that she’s covered the New York Yankees in the way that she’s done it. Her voice is synonymous with the Yankees. I think people forget she also covered the Knicks and was the first voice ever heard on WFAN. She’s a Hall of Famer. Even if you’re not a Yankees fan you’ve heard of Suzyn Waldman.

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She’s tenacious. She doesn’t take no for an answer. She’s tough when she needs to be, but she has a tremendous amount of compassion as well. I think, especially on the radio side, it’s about story-telling. And the relationships Suzyn has formed over the years, you can tell throughout her broadcast how close she is to the game and to the people within the game. And she delivers those stories in a way that brings fans closer to the team. I think she commands a tremendous amount of respect not only in the Yankees clubhouse but around the league and within the industry. And on top of that, she has a work ethic like no other.

Q: You were a big Linda Cohn fan.

A: Back then, there weren’t as many options as far as where to get sports, and within those options, there weren’t a ton of females. So we would watch “SportsCenter” every day before we went to school in Northampton, Pennsylvania, with my two brothers, and it was back in the day when “SportsCenter” was just full highlights and personality out of the anchors. We’d watch it three times before school, it would repeat, repeat, repeat, but if it was a good play you wanted to see it again, and she was often on those shows that I watched on ESPN when I was younger, and it essentially showed me that hey, if this is something you want to do, you can do this. I think representation is certainly important, and I think it’s still extremely important.

Q: Lesley Visser?

A: I had the opportunity to meet her through Suzyn Waldman, and another pioneer, somebody that’s kinda been through it all and has had to fight to keep a position. And I think without people like Lesley Visser, like Suzyn Waldman, like others like Linda Cohn, people like myself would not be in roles that they’re in right now.

Q: Sarah Kustok?

A: I think she’s an example that through hard work, and being extremely talented, you can elevate within your profession. And she does a great job on the Nets. I mentioned representation, the fact that she is the first primary color commentator/analyst, however you’d like to phrase it, for an NBA team in the league is remarkable.

Q: Jeane Coakley?

A: She was one of my first friends in New York City. We actually lived in the same building for a while, worked at SNY together. We used to have little parties on the roof deck. After shows on a weekend, we’d sit up there and have some wine and invite friends over and just feel like, “Wow, look at us, we’re doing it in New York, right?” It was pretty awesome. We had a view of the New Yorker, we had a view of the Hudson. I actually lived in that apartment building because I got hired by YES so late in the game I couldn’t find a place to live, and she’s like, “Just look at my building.” So she was a friend, a real estate agent (laugh) and a colleague all at the same time.

Q: How good of a volleyball player were you?

A: Well, I got a D-I scholarship (La Salle), so good enough. I wasn’t Big Ten good. I was A-10 OK (laugh).

Q: Three dinner guests?

A: Martha Stewart; Linda Cohn; Suzyn Waldman.

Q: Favorite meal?

A: Branzino with lemon potatoes and asparagus.

Q: Are you recognized?

A: A little bit.

Q: What’s that like for you?

A: Odd. I grew up in a small town in Walnutport, Pennsylvania. We used to drive our bikes to the dairy to get ice cream as kids. But, I get it, it’s New York. … It’s the Yankees, and there are an awful lot of fans out there especially here in New York City. So while it’s unbelievably flattering, it’ll never not be odd to me.

Q: Your thoughts on winning two Emmys last year?

A: I’m appreciative. It’s nice to be recognized for the hard work. In the grand scheme of things, my approach doesn’t change whether I win two Emmys or I win zero Emmys. I think I’m just proud to work for a team (YES Network) that consistently puts out a good product.

Q: What are you most proud of about your career?

A: The relationships I’ve built over the years, and the respect I think I have earned from athletes, the fan base and within the industry. Nobody bats a thousand but I’ve put in the work and have tried to do things the right way. I hope people have recognized that over the years… and perhaps my proudest moments are yet to come.

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