Aaron Boone will forever have to answer for one questionable World Series decision but it seems he’s off the hook for his other debatable choice.
Boone’s controversial call to lift Gerrit Cole after just 88 pitches in Game 1 of the World Series stemmed from Cole telling the Yankees manager “he was gassed,” according to author Ian O’Connor.
The seventh-year skipper has come under fire for his decision-making process during the World Series loss to the Dodgers, especially his two calls in Game 1.
While Boone has defended why he went with Nestor Cortes over Tim Hill to face Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman, who hit the walk-off grand slam in the Dodgers’ tone-setting 6-3 win in 10 innings, he’s been more cryptic about pulling Cole in the seventh inning.
Cole allowed a leadoff single to Teoscar Hernandez to cap an eight-pitch at-bat while leading, 2-1, when Boone began the parade of relievers.
Boone said that Friday night that he believed his ace “got a little bit taxed” and later said “I knew I had to get him there.” He added that the reigning AL Cy Young winner was healthy.
When asked how he knew that Cole couldn’t pitch deeper into the game, Boone replied: “You just have to take my word for it.”
Boone is known for being one to defend his players, which is why he is well-received among his team, and he surely knows saying Cole asked out of a World Series game would be a bad look.
The Yankees blew their 2-1 lead one inning later when, in what would be a theme for the series, a poor defensive play by Gleyber Torres allowed Shohei Ohtani to move from second to third with one out.
Cole pitched deeper into Game 5 on Wednesday — throwing 6 2/3 innings on 108 pitches — and again left with a lead that reliever Tommy Kahnle would squander in the eighth inning.
