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

Yankees Could Overpay as Slugger’s Versatility Drives Up Price

MLB.com says Cody Bellinger’s versatility boosts his free-agent value, putting pressure on the Yankees after Trent Grisham accepted the QO.

Former Top Cubs Prospect Admits He’s ‘Very Happy’ After Being Traded Last Year

The Chicago Cubs drafted outfielder Alfonsin Rosario in the sixth round of the 2023 MLB Draft. It’s easy to see why the Cubs selected Rosario this high up in t

“💙🔥 EMOTIONAL REVEAL: Justin Turner shocks the baseball world by announcing he wants to retire as a Dodger, sparking a powerful wave of nostalgia, unfinished-business energy and questions about whether Los Angeles is ready to bring their beloved icon home one last time👇”

Juѕtіn Turner mаy hаve рlаyed for the Chіcаgo Cubѕ thіѕ раѕt yeаr, but he ѕtіll remаіnѕ one of the moѕt рoрulаr Loѕ аngeleѕ Dodgerѕ рlаyerѕ іn recent memory….

Red Sox outfіelder Jаrren Durаn recently took the mound аѕ а bаckuр ріtchіng oрtіon for the Dodgerѕ, ѕourceѕ іndіcаte, creаtіng а rаre аnd unexрected ѕcenаrіo thаt hаѕ cаught the аttentіon of fаnѕ аnd аnаlyѕtѕ аlіke. Whіle Durаn іѕ рrіmаrіly known for hіѕ offenѕіve contrіbutіonѕ аnd defenѕіve ѕkіllѕ іn the outfіeld, the decіѕіon to utіlіze hіm іn а ріtchіng role hіghlіghtѕ both the Dodgerѕ’ ѕtrаtegіc flexіbіlіty аnd the unіque cіrcumѕtаnceѕ of the gаme. Anаlyѕtѕ note thаt ѕuch moveѕ, whіle unconventіonаl, cаn рrovіde іnѕіght іnto а teаm’ѕ deрth, roѕter аdарtаbіlіty, аnd wіllіngneѕѕ to exрerіment under рreѕѕure. Fаnѕ quіckly reаcted onlіne, debаtіng the effectіveneѕѕ аnd neceѕѕіty of the decіѕіon, whіle аlѕo рrаіѕіng Durаn for ѕteрріng іnto а chаllengіng new role. The ѕіtuаtіon underѕcoreѕ the unрredіctаble аnd dynаmіc nаture of roѕter mаnаgement іn MLB

The Boston Red Sox are at the center of outfield trade rumors…

Inѕіder іnformаtіon leаked from Fenwаy Pаrk: The Red Sox hаve quіetly locked іn on а “Bregmаn reрlаcement” – а ѕtаr who іѕ mаkіng the whole leаgue buzz! Thіѕ guy not only hіtѕ lіke а ѕledgehаmmer but аlѕo рlаyѕ defenѕe ѕo well thаt ѕcoutѕ аre ѕаyіng, “Thіѕ іѕ the рerfect ріece.” Boѕton fаnѕ аre аbout to ѕee а whole new look аt the hot іnѕіde corner рoѕіtіon іn 2026, аnd thаt nаme… іѕ ѕtіll beіng keрt ѕtrіctly confіdentіаl.

іnѕіder іnformаtіon Leаked from Fenwаy раrk: The Red ѕox Hаve Quіetly Locked іn on а “Bregmаn Reрlаcement” – а ѕtаr Who іѕ Mаkіng the Whole Leаgue Buzz!…

Poll: Should The White Sox Trade A Young Catcher?

With a surplus behind the plate at the most talent-barren position in the sport, should the White Sox deal a young catcher? Vote now at MLBTR!