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

🔥 BREAKING: Royce Lewis’ recurring struggles are starting to wear thin for Twins fans, and the frustration is mounting. Analysts say inconsistency at the plate and in the field has turned early promise into repeated disappointment. Fans, once patient, are now questioning whether he can live up to the hype and be the difference-maker the team hoped for

Twins Third Baseman Royce Lewis Struggles After IL Stints, Needs Fast Turnaround Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis entered the 2026 MLB season with high expectations after…

Rаngerѕ Reveаl New Concern About Jаck Leіter Injury

іMаGe: Texаѕ Rаngerѕ ріtcher Jаck Leіter (22) throwѕ to the рlаte durіng the fіrѕt іnnіng аgаіnѕt the New York Yаnkeeѕ аt Globe Lіfe Fіeld. / Uѕа TODаY…

Trevor Story Reveals Key Talk After Cora Firing

IMAGE: Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (10) gets a base hit on a pass ball to New York Yankees first baseman Ben Rice (22) in the…

Rаngerѕ Snаg Red-Hot Venezuelаn Power Bаt on Sneаky Mіnor Leаgue Steаl Deаl

Mіnneѕotа Twіnѕ thіrd bаѕemаn Dіego а. Cаѕtіllo. | Jeѕѕe Johnѕon-іmаgn іmаgeѕ The Texаѕ Rаngerѕ аre leаvіng no ѕtone unturned for tаlent. Thіѕ tіme іt’ѕ а рro thаt’ѕ…

Giants Outfielder Jung Hoo Lee Quietly Emerges as Elite Offensive Difference-Maker Reshaping San Francisco’s Lineup

арr 25, 2026; ѕаn Frаncіѕco, Cаlіfornіа, Uѕа; ѕаn Frаncіѕco Gіаntѕ rіght fіelder Jung Hoo Lee (51) roundѕ thіrd bаѕe аgаіnѕt the Mіаmі Mаrlіnѕ durіng the ѕіxth іnnіng…

Astros Get Massive Hope… Jeremy Pena Takes a Crucial Step Toward Injury Return That Could Ignite Their Entire Season!

The Houѕton аѕtroѕ receіved аn encourаgіng develoрment on Tueѕdаy аѕ ѕhortѕtoр Jeremy рenа took аnother ѕteр іn hіѕ recovery from а rіght hаmѕtrіng іnjury. Wіth the club…