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: ROKI SASAKI STUNS MLB WITH RAW CONFESSION, ACCEPTS ROLE SHIFT AND POSSIBLE PAY CUT as pressure mounts and criticism grows, forcing a dramatic turning point in his journey with the Los Angeles Dodgers. What once looked like dominance is now a fight for redemption, as Roki Sasaki embraces adversity and signals he’s willing to sacrifice everything to prove he still belongs at the top..ll 👇👇👇

LOS ANGELES – Amidst growing criticism over his inconsistent performance, Roki Sasaki is becoming the biggest point of contention for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2026…

🚨 REPORT: MLB WORLD PAUSES AROUND KYLE TUCKER AS UNEXPECTED PERSONAL SITUATION EMERGES, leaving fans concerned as uncertainty grows and support quietly pours in from across the league. What’s happening behind the scenes remains unclear, but the moment is already hitting deeper than baseball for many watching closely..ll 👇👇👇

In a heartbreaking announcement that has sent shockwaves through the baseball world, Major League Baseball and the Los Angeles Dodgers organization extended their deepest condolences to star…

🚨 REPORT: YANKEES TURNING ON JAZZ CHISHOLM JR., STAR SUDDENLY LABELED AS SCAPEGOAT as pressure builds fast and trade whispers begin to swirl around a situation that’s getting more uncomfortable by the day in the Bronx. What once looked like a key piece now feels uncertain, with Jazz Chisholm Jr. caught in the middle of expectations, frustration, and quiet front office moves inside the New York Yankees clubhouse..ll 👇👇👇

YANKEES FACE TOUGH QUESTIONS: Jazz Chisholm Jr.’s Struggles Intensify as Early Season Pressure Mounts on High Expectations The New York Yankees are navigating a complicated early-season narrative,…

🚨 REPORT: METS ON EDGE AS BEHIND THE SCENES DRAMA BEGINS TO SURFACE, raising serious questions about a slow and uneasy start that fans can’t ignore anymore. What looks like a simple on-field struggle may hide deeper issues, and the tension is starting to spill into the spotlight around the New York Mets clubhouse. This shift in energy is hard to ignore, and it feels like something bigger is quietly unfolding..ll 👇👇👇

METS IN CRISIS: Internal Uncertainty Clouds New Era as Slow Start Raises Serious Questions About Team Direction The New York Mets entered the offseason with a clear…

🚨 CONFIRM: RANGERS CAUGHT OFF GUARD AS BRANDON NIMMO TAKES OVER NIGHTLY, SILENTLY BECOMING THE HEARTBEAT OF THE LINEUP with a surge nobody saw coming this fast, flipping expectations and forcing the league to take notice. What started as a steady presence has turned into undeniable impact, as Brandon Nimmo now feels like the one constant the Texas Rangers can rely on every single game..ll 👇👇👇

RANGERS STRIKE GOLD: Brandon Nimmo’s Explosive Start Validates Bold Trade as Marcus Semien Struggles to Find Form in New York The Texas Rangers sent shockwaves across Major…

🚨 REPORT: YANKEES UNLEASH HIDDEN GEM, SECRET WEAPON DOMINATING ON A BARGAIN DEAL as a breakout star quietly delivers elite production while earning under $1 million, leaving rivals stunned and fans buzzing about the ultimate steal. What looks like a minor contract is turning into a massive advantage for the New York Yankees, proving value doesn’t always come with a superstar price tag..ll 👇👇👇

YANKEES ON THE RISE: Ben Rice Emerges As One Of MLB’s Biggest Bargains While Power Surge Fuels New York’s Momentum Early In Season The New York Yankees…