Derek Jeter DUMBFOUNDED by Aaron Boone’s WILD decision that cost Yankees Game 1 against Dodgers

Derek Jeter and many sports personalities fail to figure out Aaron Boone’s drastic decision to call Nestor Cortes in an important game.

Derek Jeter DUMBFOUNDED by Aaron Boone’s WILD decision that cost Yankees Game 1 against Dodgers

Derek Jeter and Aaron Boone [Image Credit: NBC News/Imago]

New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter, just like many in the baseball world right now, appeared dumbfounded by manager Aaron Boone’s decision in Game 1. His drastic call to appoint a player who has not pitched since September 18, invited criticism from fans and pundits all over the MLB world.

Removing Gerrit Cole from the diamond, pulling out Nestor Cortes to pitch instead of Tim Hill against one of the Major Leagues stars Shohei Ohtani, surely wasn’t the right move in Friday’s World Series game. Boone’s reaction after Freddie Freeman’s grand slam said it all.

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Initially, Aaron Boone had Jake Cousins for the 10th inning but then decided to go with Cortes who had not pitched in officially since September due to injury. Derek Jeter questioned Boone on Cole’s decision asking what the need for change was when the guy was perfectly pitching 88.

FS Video

Gerrit Cole was dominating this game. He was dominating the game. And if you take him out after 88 pitches for I don’t know what reason, it’s a domino effect on not only this game tonight, tomorrow’s game, and the rest of this series matches.

Derek Jeter said

He further added, how Aaron Boone should’ve left Cole alone and see how much he could’ve dialed in, especially with the Yankees lead, it was an unnecessary risky move that ultimately cost the team a 3-6 loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Yes Network hosts also criticized Boone’s decision saying,

I don’t care what the numbers say about Nestor Cortes [against Ohtani]. He hadn’t pitched since September 18. Those numbers against Ohtani were every five days [with Cortes as a starter]…That did not seem to be the move to make.

Michael Kay weighed in
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He furiously questioned why Boone did not call for Tim Hill when he was also in the bullpen ready to go. Especially given Hill’s latest performance with the team, he would’ve been a much better choice than risking with Cortes. Kay was flabbergasted about how the team let go of the lead created by Gerrit Cole with a bad roster decision.

Aaron Boone explains reason behind Nestor Cortes vs. Freddie Freeman decision

While Aaron Boone did explain why he chose to go with Nestor Cortes instead of Tim Hill, it did not seem good enough to convince the angered fan base. He said Cortes had been throwing the ball really well in the past few weeks, so he felt “convicted” to go for him.

Aaron Boone.
Aaron Boone [Image Credit: Imago]

Game 1 ended on a dramatic note as everyone’s yet to process how the NY Yankees lost despite leading early in the game. Boone’s decision and Cortes’ mishap led to a devastating blow early in the World Series.

Just liked the matchup. The reality is, he’s been throwing the ball really well the last few weeks as he’s gotten ready for this. I knew with one out there, it would be tough to double up Shohei if Tim Hill gets him on the ground and then Mookie behind him is a tough matchup there. So, felt convicted with Nestor in that spot.

Aaron Boone told reporters
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He further spoke about how there was a rivalry between Shohei Ohtani and Nestor Cortes which was also part of his decision to bring him out on the diamond. With Game 1 loss, the Yankees will have to be careful and not drag it to a 2-0 WS deficit.