Here’s what Mets manager Carlos Mendoza is saying about Yankees reaching World Series

LOS ANGELES — For the last four seasons, Carlos Mendoza had been stationed alongside Aaron Boone in the Yankees dugout.

As the Yankees' bench coach since the 2020 season, Mendoza had played a role in all of the team's triumphs and struggles during a stretch that included three trips to the playoffs, one to the American League Championship Series and one AL East crown.

Mendoza had played four seasons in the Yankees' minor league system until 2009 and then began coaching within their organization once his playing career had ended. It was there he also began to build a relationship with some of the team's homegrown stars.

So there was a certain sense of pride for Mendoza when on his team's off day during the NLCS on Saturday night, the Mets manager was able to witness the Yankees clinch their spot in the World Series for the first time since 2009 with an extra-inning win over the Cleveland Guardians.

Carlos Mendoza congratulates Yankees

"Congratulations to the Yankees and (Brian) Cashman and (Hal) Steinbrenner, obviously (Aaron) Boone," Mendoza said prior to the Mets' Game 6 against the Dodgers on Sunday in Los Anegeles. "It's not easy. It's not easy to get to a World Series and they went through a lot.

"There's a lot of people that I have a lot of respect for, and hopefully I get to see them. We gotta take care of business here. We're facing a really good team in the Dodgers, but what a great year for them."

Mendoza realizes that his Mets team still has an opportunity to make the same celebration as the Yankees in the next two games. The Mets were trailing the Dodgers, 3-2, in their best-of-seven series entering Sunday night's game.

The Mets manager said he texted Boone, along with five or six players in the Yankees' starting lineup to congratulate them following their series-clinching win on Saturday night. He said he continues to keep an open dialogue with his former players throughout the various triumphs of the 2024 postseason.

"Yeah, you're watching it on TV. And it's like, man, we still have a chance," Mendoza said. "We know we have to face a really good team here with the Dodgers and we've got to win today because there's no tomorrow for us."

Carlos Mendoza on Aaron Boone

Mendoza was particularly excited for Boone, who has three seasons with 99 wins or more but fallen short of a World Series appearance until now.

"I'm proud of him. I think since Year One when he took over in 2018 and they won 100 games and they were still calling for his head," Mendoza said. "Not an easy gig, just like every one of us, but I know how hard they had to work to get to this point. There's a lot of people that I have a lot of respect for and definitely Boonie is one of them. I learned a lot from him."

And entering Sunday, there remained a chance that Boone and Mendoza could have a most happy reunion in the World Series and second-ever Subway Series later this week.

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Here’s what Mets manager Carlos Mendoza is saying about Yankees reaching World Series