‘Absolutely a question’: Yankees legend on Aaron Boone’s decision to pull Max Fried
As soon as Yankees manager Aaron Boone decided to pull Max Fried after 6 1/3 innings with the Yankees leading 1-0 and nobody on base in Game 1 against the Red Sox, he opened himself up to second-guessing.
On ESPN, Karl Ravech asked ex-Yankees ace and fellow broadcaster David Cone, “Will there be any questions about taking Fried out after (102) pitches?”
“Absolutely, there’s a question with nobody on base,” Cone replied.
He added: “The question becomes, are you playing for the big picture or are you playing for one game? If the Yankees are going to go all the way to the World Series, Max Fried’s going to have to have seven starts this postseason. So do you push him that hard in the first one?”
Boone opted not to push him, Luke Weaver proceeded to give up two runs in the seventh and Devin Williams allowed another in the ninth as Boston seized a 3-1 lead. The Red Sox took a 1-0 series lead behind a brilliant pitching performance from Garret Crochet, who threw 117 pitches and struck out 11.
Cone wasn’t the only one questioning the decision to pull Fried after 102 pitches.
The Yankees loaded the bases with nobody out in the ninth but failed to plate even a single run against closer Aroldis Chapman.
Boone drew criticism last year for pitching Nestor Cortes in relief in Game 1 of the World Series against the L.A. Dodgers. Cortes gave up a walk-off grand slam to Freddie Freeman.
And if the Yankees lose the series, Tuesday’s decision could be another mark on Boone’s legacy in New York.
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Category: General Sports
