Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay was left furious with manager Aaron Boone’s decision to pull pitcher Gerrit Cole in the sixth inning.
The Yankees are in a horrible situation in the American League Championship Series, with only four combined runs and no wins. The team is on the brink of elimination via sweep if they can’t pull out a victory tomorrow after losing 5-0 in the Bronx Saturday.
In the top of the sixth inning, with the Yankees down 2-0, starter Gerrit Cole loaded the bases with no outs. Manager Aaron Boone made the decision to pull Cole – who had tossed 96 pitches – and put in reliever Lou Trivino.
Trivino gave up two hits to score three runs – though he was not charged with any of them as Cole put them on base. Those runs were the last ones scored for either team, as the Yankees fell behind 3-0 in the series.
Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay was confused and angered by the decision after the game ended, with the veteran YES Network play-by-play man ripping into Boone.
Yankees broadcaster Michael Kay questioned Aaron Boone’s decision to pull Gerrit Cole
In the top of the sixth inning, with the Yankees down 2-0 Boone pulled Gerrit Cole (left)
‘I don’t get it I mean I heard his answer, he said, “you know we’re down 2-0 we have to keep it right there.” Well don’t you trust Gerrit Cole? More than Lou Trivino?,’ Kay wondered.
‘Even Gerrit Cole at 95 pitches, I trust him to save my season. Not a knock on Lou Trivino, but that’s not even your top reliever. That doesn’t make sense! The only thing that would have made sense was if Cole was hurt.
‘He’s not hurt! He’s your ace! He won those two games against the Guardians. He’s why you’re in the American League Championship Series! And you take him out there because you didn’t want the game to get out of hand? He’s the guy that can keep it from getting out of hand!’
Cole had loaded the bases in the sixth inning with the Yankees already down 2-0 to the Astros
After putting in a reliever, three more runs were charged to Cole and New York lost 5-0
Cole was equally surprised and expressed his belief that he had more left in him.
‘I feel like as a pitcher like myself, I’m probably mostly surprised. I always want to keep going,’ Cole told the media afterwards.
Fans shared Kay’s fury on social media following the game as they called for Boone and general manager Brian Cashman to be fired.
One fan posted: ‘Fire Cashman. Fire Boone. Fire all of them. Because nothing will ever change if we don’t.’
‘Boone has to go,’ another wrote. ‘I’ve never seen a group with such talent be so mismanaged. It’s a total waste. #repbx’
Yankees fans called for Boone and general manager Brian Cashman to be fired on social media
One fan called for an early end to the Yankees’ season if it meant the manager headed towards the exit.
They said: ‘I’m comfortable with the Yankees forfeiting Game 4 and just firing Cashman and Aaron Boone now.’
Meanwhile, one supporter simply blasted: ‘FIRE AARON BOONE WHAT A TERRIBLE MANAGER.’
Another insisted New York needed a ‘shake up’ and called for the team to bring in former Yankee Don Mattingly
‘The series in 2017 and 2019 were so much more painful because we had a fighter’s chance.’ they said.
‘I want Aaron Boone and Brian Cashman gone. I’ve had enough of them. Bring in Don Mattingly to manage the Yankees. You HAVE to shake it up.’
Supporters insisted that New York needs a shake up this winter as they slammed the manager
However, some supporters insisted that Boone alone wasn’t to blame but rather the organization as a whole.
One fan wrote: ‘Cashman? Needs to go. Boone? Needs to go (by association). The hitting coaches? Get outta here. The analytics team? Needs to be revamped. Whoever does gameplanning? See ya!’
Another added: ‘The Yankees can fire Aaron Boone but unless the rest of the front office is held accountable, we’re just getting the same results next year. Firing Joe Girardi after an eight year championship drought did nothing, and firing Boone will be the same. This team needs a new voice.’
Meanwhile, one supporter claimed that Boone was a scapegoat for the front office’s mistakes.
They posted: ‘People thinking that only Aaron Boone getting fired will change anything is hilarious man, exactly what the Yankees FO wants you to think, he is clearly a puppet and scapegoat for their mistakes’
Some supporters insisted that Boone alone wasn’t to blame but rather the whole organization
Fans at Yankee Stadium appeared to boo star slugger and MVP-contender Aaron Judge after he struck out again Saturday night.
However, reporter Michael Fabiano insisted that the fans were not booing Judge alone but rather the Boone-managed team.
‘Yankees fans aren’t booing Judge alone,’ they wrote. ‘They’re booing another Cashman/Boone team that shows no heart and can’t hit in yet another postseason. Blow. It. Up.’
Michael Fabiano insisted that the fans were not booing Judge but the Boone-managed team
New York, which last reached the World Series in 2009, is on the precipice of elimination against Houston for the fourth time in eight seasons. After sprinting to a 61-23 record in early July, the Yankees spiraled to a 38-40 mark the rest of the way and have sputtered in the playoffs.
Christian Vazquez added a two-run single and Trey Mancini a sacrifice fly as the Astros chased Cole in the sixth inning and opened a five-run lead.
Javier pitched seven innings during the Astros´ combined no-hitter at Yankee Stadium on June 25 and was nearly as sharp this time. He didn´t allow a ball out of the infield until Giancarlo Stanton´s one-out double in the fourth – the only hit Javier allowed.
The Yankees face a do-or-die Game 4 this Sunday night. Only once in major league history has a team overcome a 3-0 postseason series deficit, Boston against the Yankees in the 2004 ALCS.