On Wednesday night, the premiere episode of The Comeback aired, presenting a critical perspective on the New York Yankees that resonated with many fans’ negative sentiments about the team. The episode depicted the Yankees as arrogant figures who view baseball as more than just a game. A significant highlight was the 2003 Red Sox season, which ended dramatically with Aaron Boone’s walk-off home run in Game Seven of the ALCS. Tim Wakefield delivered an impressive performance, yet a knuckleball in the 11th inning went awry, allowing the game to slip away.
Fast forward to 2018, when the Yankees sought a new manager. Instead of opting for someone with coaching experience, they chose Aaron Boone, who transitioned from a television analyst to the team’s head. This decision may have been influenced by his standing as a Yankees icon, even though the team did not clinch the 2003 World Series after overcoming the Red Sox.
By traditional Yankee standards, Boone’s management has been lackluster, although the team has frequently reached the playoffs. This season marked the first time they advanced to the World Series. In Boone’s inaugural World Series game last night against the Dodgers, he controversially brought in Nestor Cortes in the tense bottom of the tenth inning. Many observers might label this choice as questionable, if not outright reckless.
Cortes is known for his command and deceptive pitching, yet he doesn’t possess overwhelming speed and had not taken the mound in over a month prior to this game. In high-pressure situations, particularly with loaded bases and three former MVPs due up, relying on a pitcher who excels through command is a risky gamble.
While hindsight offers clarity, Boone’s rationale raises questions. Was he expecting Cortes to miraculously throw 95 MPH with perfect precision? Did he envision a scripted outcome typical of a family-friendly Disney movie featuring a clever lefty? Boone’s belief that Cortes had been performing well recently fails to consider that his “success” was against less formidable opponents.
In a post-game commentary, Boone defended his decision by citing the favorable matchup and Cortes’ recent performance as justification for placing him in such a critical situation. However, Boone should reflect on the circumstances next time he makes a high-stakes decision. Cortes may have been throwing well in practice, but pitching against Hall-of-Famers in a World Series is an entirely different challenge.
Ultimately, one might express gratitude to Tim Wakefield for that memorable knuckleball that didn’t knuckle, as it contributed to the series of events that resulted in breaking the curse and placing an inept manager at the helm of the Yankees.