YES analysts debunk Aaron Boone’s Yankees pitching mistakes, from Gerrit Cole to Nestor Cortez

YES Network analysts, in fact, had one question after Yankees lost Game 1 of the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers 6–3, on first baseman Freddie Freeman’s two-out grand slam in the 10th inning: What the hell was manager Aaron Boone thinking?

As soon as the game ended on Fox and the YES post-game aired, John Flaherty, Jack Curry and Michael Kay began throwing haymakers: “And it’s not a guess,” Flaherty said. “That’s my first guess.”

With the Yankees leading 3–2, Boone took the field. lefty Nestor Cortez in the fateful inning. And while he retired slugger Shohei Ohtani on a lefty-on-lefty foul play—thanks to a sensational catch by left fielder Alex Verdugo—Cortez surrendered Freeman’s dramatic game-winner in another lefty-on-lefty situation after intentionally walking to the right. Mookie Betts to load the bases.

Flaherty, Curry and Kay criticized Boone for not using submarine left-hander Tim Hill, who had been nearly untouchable in the postseason, confusing hitters with his odd delivery and pitch selection thrown from crazy angles.

Meanwhile, Cortez was sidelined with a left elbow flexor strain and was added to the World Series roster at the last minute. Everyone agreed that using him in a high-leverage situation in his first appearance was management malpractice.

Kay rejected Boone’s assertion that Cortez threw the ball well in bullpen sessions.

“It’s a gut punch for the Yankees when you lose like that,” Flaherty said. “And you have to ask Aaron Boone right away: Where was Tim Hill? He’s been one of your best pitchers all postseason. Decided to go with Nestor Cortez in extra innings. He walks (Shohei) Ohtani out and then intentionally walks to Mookie Betts, and the next pitch is a grand slam and the game is over.”

Flaherty threw a punch and allowed Curry to slip between the ropes and body-slammed Boone.

“Nestor Cortez hasn’t pitched in a major league game in over a month,” Curry said. “In this situation, I turn to him: I know that Ohtani showed 2 for 12 against Nestor in his career, but this guy hasn’t served for almost a month and a half.

“You know, we all watched the game right here. And this is not a second guess. That’s the first guess because of what Tim Hill has done in the postseason and the different looks and angles he gives you and makes it difficult against a left-handed hitter.”

Curry added: “I think everyone gave Nestor Cortez credit for his persistence in getting into the lineup, but I didn’t think he would be the pitcher the Yankees would turn to in that situation.”

By this time, Kay had taken a metal chair and used it on Boone as well.

“I’ll get back to getting Gerrit Cole out on 88 pitches,” Kay said. “I think it caused a domino effect because he bowled so well. But you take your starting out, and then you still have a lot of outs to get, especially as you get to (extra innings).

“We talked throughout the first two rounds that Boone was perfect in two series, but today he was not perfect. … You don’t want to use your bullpen that much. In the first game, the Yankees were shown to everyone. And I don’t care what the numbers say about Nestor Cortez. He hasn’t filed since September 18th. Those numbers were against Nestor Cortes pitching every five days.

“Tim Hill was an outstanding player for the Yankees,” Kay added. “This is the guy you invited. We all looked at each other when he brought Nestor Cortez. It didn’t make sense. Again, he hasn’t thrown a pitch since September 18th. I’m not interested in (simulation) games. I don’t care what he looked like in the bullpen. Looks like this was the wrong move.”

In a post-game on-field interview, Freeman said he needed a fastball for the first pitch or an outside corner cutter to hit left field. He figured that with the bases loaded, Cortez would want to get ahead in the count. He was right.

“He was hunting for a fastball on the first pitch,” Curry said. “Nestor Cortez is not someone who is going to come in and throw 98 or 99 (mph) and beat you. And if the bases are loaded and you’re trying to protect a lead, what are you going to do? You’re probably going to throw a fastball on the first pitch. You’ll probably try to beat the score. Freeman is too smart a hitter to miss this pitch.”

With this loss, the Yankees lost their biggest asset: Cole.

“When you start like Gerrit Cole… I mean, it was such a pivotal game for the Yankees, your ace in the hole,” Kay said. “That’s the reason he’s on the team. There is no Gerrit Coles on Major League Baseball teams. … The Yankees have one who is well rested. He threw six really strong innings. You should probably hold out longer and you’ll lose this game.”

“Like I said, it’s a tough loss for the Yankees,” Flaherty said.

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