Yankees Manager Boone Stands by Cole Start Despite Game 1 Loss
Despite the Yankees' Game 1 ALDS defeat, manager Aaron Boone's decision to start Gerrit Cole over the streaking Carlos Rodón is defended.
New York Yankees manager Aaron Boone should not second-guess his decision to start Gerrit Cole in Game 1 of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays, even though the team ultimately fell to a 1-0 defeat. Cole, despite allowing the game's only run on a home run, pitched effectively for five innings, and Boone's choice to prioritize Cole's postseason track record over Carlos Rodón's recent dominance is seen as sound.
Boone himself described the decision as a "toss-up," but notably, he made the call despite opinions from some within the organization who favored Rodón. Rodón had been on an impressive run, posting a 1.89 ERA and a .146 batting average against since his return, and had previously shut out the Rays over eight innings less than two weeks prior to Game 1. In contrast, Cole had surrendered nine home runs in his four starts leading up to the playoff opener.
However, Cole entered the game with a strong postseason ERA of 2.77. The one regrettable pitch, a changeup on a 2-2 count to Jonathan Aranda, proved to be the decisive run in the game. While the Yankees' offense failed to produce, Boone's gamble on his veteran ace's playoff pedigree is viewed as a justifiable strategic decision.
