Brothers Aaron, Bret renew Battle of Boones in Yankees-Rangers - ESPN

NEW YORK — For the first time in two decades, the Boone brothers will be in opposite dugouts when the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers meet for a three-game series at Yankee Stadium this week.

Back in 2005, Bret Boone and little brother Aaron — whose father and grandfather were major leaguers — were in their 30s and nearing the end of their careers as third-generation players. This time, Aaron is in his eighth season as Yankees manager and Bret is in his third week as Rangers hitting coach.

To celebrate the unlikely occasion, they had dinner together Monday after not seeing each other since spending Christmas together in San Diego.

«Well, it's new for me,» Bret said. «He actually paid the bill last night.»

Bret, 56, had never been on a major league coaching staff before the Rangers unexpectedly called him to gauge his interest in helping their anemic offense. He quickly accepted the job and took over as hitting coach on May 5, days after the club fired offensive coordinator Donnie Ecker.

At the time, the Rangers, less than two years removed from winning the World Series with Ecker, ranked last in the American League in runs scored. The sample is tiny, but the Rangers entered Tuesday ranked seventh in the league since May 6, Boone's first day on the job.

«He's fit in really nicely,» said Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, who managed Bret on the 2000 San Diego Padres. «Bret's brought some new ideals, another set of eyes and ears. And I think he's done a really nice job of getting to know the guys, building relationships already, and he's a pleasure to have around.»

Growing up, the brothers, because they were four years apart, didn't play together or against each other in any official capacity. But there were battles of all