How Knicks championship parade fuels Yankees' World Series dreams

NEW YORK – There’s a championship parade scheduled this week up the Canyon of Heroes, which triggers some emotions in Yankees Universe.

It’s been 17 years since a World Series team of Yankees appeared on floats, and there’s enough talent and hope on this 2026 club to imagine another happening in five months.

But this week is a celebration of the NBA champion New York Knicks.

“Really happy for them… the way they came together and the amazing run they went on in the postseason,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said this weekend.

“That team will be immortalized.”

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Boone has had the occasion of meeting and speaking with Jalen Brunson, and the manager “became a fan on the spot” of the Knicks star.

“I loved him. Genuine guy,” said Boone, who saw the Knicks’ incredible playoff run as “a great example of a team that certainly faced more than their share of adversity.

“Their mental toughness and championship mettle just ended up winning the day,” said Boone. “Each one of those guys, to varying degrees, kind of went through rough moments… and they all persevered.

“It’s not an easy thing to do. That’s why they’re champions.”

A few points on the Yankees this week as they open a six-game homestand Tuesday against the surprising Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds:
, Spencer Jones

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Trent Grisham landed on the injured list with a right hamstring strain this weekend and was scheduled for tests Monday.

And a setback in Giancarlo Stanton‘s rehab (right calf strain) prompted more tests for the slugging DH, just as he was on the verge of returning to Boone’s lineup.

That provides some run here for both Jasson Dominguez and Spencer Jones.

Boone sees the lefty-hitting Jones getting some starts against lefty pitching, and the switch-hitting Dominguez is “in a really good place, just watching him handle all this” as he adapts to right field.

Dominguez wasn’t particularly challenged in right field during his two games at Toronto, but he expressed having a comfort level at the position already.

At the plate, Dominguez showed no ill-effects from crashing his left shoulder into Yankee Stadium’s left field wall on May 7, which forced him to the IL (AC joint strain).

Dominguez homered off Kevin Gausman in Saturday’s 3-1 win, and lashed a double from the right side in Sunday’s 8-3 victory at Toronto.
catcher question

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On the IL due to cervical headaches, catcher Austin Wells could begin a minor league rehab assignment this week, and it’s possible he could be activated by the weekend.

The lefty-hitting catching tandem of Wells and J.C. Escarra hasn’t produced, and with veteran first baseman Paul Goldschmidt enjoying a fine stretch, the question of possibly using Ben Rice behind the plate comes up.

“It’s not in the immediate plans,” said Boone, adding that Rice hasn’t caught a bullpen session since he suffered a contusion to his left hand (it’s fine now) on May 3.

Rice has been the Yanks’ MVP this year, and he’s even a more valuable figure with Judge sidelined, so the risk of injury at the position is a factor, too.

“I love catching. Right now, it hasn’t been in the equation much,” said Rice, who still enjoys being in the daily battery meetings and “talking with our catchers about game-planning.

“I just always appreciate the position so much,” said Rice, but the Yanks aren’t deviating from his role as a first baseman/DH.
, Anthony Volpe is a day-to-day decision

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Boone says his starting shortstop choice between Jose Caballero and Anthony Volpe is a day-to-day decision.

That choice is sometimes influenced by Caballero’s ability to move to another spot versus a lefty starter; both players started in Sunday’s win, with Caballero winding up at three positions in nine innings.

Arriving at Toronto in a 2-for-26 stretch, Volpe didn’t start the first two games but had an overall solid Sunday against the Blue Jays, including a pair of RBI singles.

Meanwhile, Caballero wants clarity about his tactic of delaying engagement with the pitcher until the last possible second, which drew him a warning from umpires Sunday.

Boone promised to speak to the league about it, as Caballero questioned whether umpires are targeting him because of his routine.

“I’m not doing anything out of the ruling,” said Caballero, charging that umps “are just changing the rules day by day.”