BREAKING: Is Aaron Boone’s ‘Grady Little Moment’ in the World Series the Final Straw for the Yankees?

Aaron Boone

Did New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone just have his “Grady Little moment”?

Two outs from winning Game 1 of the World Series 3-2 on Friday night, Boone turned to left-handed pitcher Nestor Cortes, who hadn‘t pitched in 37 days, to save the game by facing the top of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ order.

It failed miserably — and could raise uncomfortable questions about Boone’s job security if the Yankees do not win the World Series.

Although Cortes got Shohei Ohtani to fly out in foul territory for the second out, the Yankees walked Mookie Betts to load the bases to pitch to Freddie Freeman, who proceeded to launch a walk-off grand slam. Dodgers 6, Yankees 3 in 10 innings.

On Thursday‘s ESPN “Baseball Tonight” podcast, MLB insider Buster Olney was asked which manager, Boone or the Dodgers’ Dave Roberts, was more “vulnerable” in terms of his job security. While Olney thought both were safe and would get extensions in the offseason, he left one caveat — the type that played out Friday.

“I think they are equally vulnerable,” Olney said. “It sounds like a cop-out but I think they are in a really great position now that they‘ve reached the World Series. … The Yankees getting back to World Series for the first time since 2009.

“(But) I do think that if there‘s a Grady Little moment. Like if there’s one major decision in a big spot that turns out to be decisive, that fuels talk radio, especially for Aaron Boone. Then, yeah, potentially that manager could be more vulnerable.”

Boone turned to Cortes, who last pitched Sept. 18, over Tim Hill, a funky left-handed reliever with a 3.36 ERA in the regular season and one earned run allowed in 5 2/3 innings in the postseason. Additionally, he was a player who at least had been pitching in competitive games, unlike Cortes who was resting and rehabbing his flexor tendon strain (which will likely require surgery) over the past month-plus.

In Game 7 of the 2003 AL Championship Series, former Boston Red Sox manager Grady Little kept in Pedro Martinez in the eighth inning against the Yankees with a 5-2 lead. Five batters later, the score was 5-5 and the Yankees would win via an 11th-inning Boone home run to knock out Boston, ultimately losing to the Marlins in the World Series.

The decision that drew heavy criticism was keeping Martinez in at 115 pitches with one batter on and left-handed slugger Hideki Matsui up, five outs from advancing to the World Series. The score was 5-3. Little could have called on lefty Alan Embree. Instead, Matsui hit a double and Jorge Posada doubled to score two more. The rest, as they say, was history.

Little was fired less than two weeks later, though the Red Sox say his insistence on a multi-year deal played a factor.

Related Posts

🚨 BOMBSHELL: Luke Weaver just pulled up to Mets camp with a Yankees bag, and fans are losing their minds! Is this a sign of things to come, or just a bizarre move? The drama surrounding this is only beginning…ll 👇👇👇

🚨 MLB DRAMA: Luke Weaver Arrives at Mets Camp with Yankees Bag – What Does This Mean for His Future? 👇 In an unexpected turn of events,…

🚨BREAKING: Sources say White Sox near deal with RHP Erick Fedde! Chicago is reportedly closing in on adding a veteran arm to their rotation, and if this goes through, it could be the boost the Sox pitching staff has been craving. With a potential agreement on the horizon, fans are buzzing — but is this the start of a bigger overhaul? 👇👇👇

Sources: Chicago White Sox Near Deal with RHP Erick Fedde to Strengthen Rotation The Chicago White Sox are reportedly closing in on a one-year contract with right-handed…

🚨BREAKING: Pirates sign Marcell Ozuna to a one‑year deal! Pittsburgh just added a proven power bat to their lineup, and this unexpected move instantly changes the narrative for the 2026 season. Will Ozuna’s veteran presence fuel a surprising playoff push — or is there a twist that could flip this story yet again? 👇👇👇

Pirates Sign Marcell Ozuna to One-Year Deal: What It Means for Pittsburgh’s 2026 Season In a move that signals the Pittsburgh Pirates are still looking to bolster…

🚨BREAKING: Boston Red Sox land Milwaukee Brewers’ Caleb Durbin in a 6‑player trade! The blockbuster swap shakes up both rosters as Boston adds a dynamic infielder to its lineup. With six players involved, this isn’t just a minor tweak — it could redefine the Red Sox’s direction heading into 2026. What does Durbin bring to Boston, and who did the Sox give up to get him? 👇👇👇

Boston Red Sox Land Milwaukee Brewers’ Caleb Durbin in Six-Player Trade: What This Means for 2026 In a move that shakes up their roster ahead of the…

🚨BREAKING: How ESPN graded the Red Sox’s ‘interesting’ Caleb Durbin trade — and the verdict might surprise you! Analysts didn’t call it a slam dunk, but the way ESPN evaluated the deal is stirring major debate: some see it as Boston getting savvy value, while others think the Sox gave up too much potential for immediate depth. The real takeaway isn’t just the grade — it’s why they gave it. 👇👇👇

How ESPN Graded Red Sox’s ‘Interesting’ Caleb Durbin Trade The Boston Red Sox made an interesting move on Monday, acquiring Caleb Durbin from the Milwaukee Brewers in…

🚨BREAKING: Yankees trade for 28‑year‑old infielder who grew up in the same city as Derek Jeter! New York just pulled off a hometown‑flavored move that’s getting fans buzzing — a player with deep local roots now headed to the Bronx. Could this unexpected twist be more than just nostalgia, and does it signal a bigger plan for the Yankees’ lineup? 👇👇👇

Yankees Acquire 28-Year-Old Infielder Max Schuemann, a Kalamazoo Native Like Derek Jeter In a move that might intrigue both New York Yankees fans and baseball enthusiasts alike,…