The New York Yankees' season hangs by a thread following a critical Game 1 wild-card round loss to the Red Sox, a defeat many attribute to manager Aaron Boone's controversial decision to pull ace pitcher Max Fried prematurely. This strategic move, which saw Fried removed after just 102 pitches in a tight 3-1 contest, has ignited a fierce debate, with the team's own play-by-play announcer, Michael Kay, publicly questioning Boone's post-game justification.
After the game, Boone explained his intention was to limit Fried to six innings. However, after Fried induced a double play in the sixth, Boone stated he allowed the left-hander to face one more batter—the left-handed Jarren Duran—in the seventh, before making a planned switch. The manager further clarified that Fried did not request to be pulled, but rather that he favored Luke Weaver's matchup against the Red Sox's eighth, ninth, and leadoff hitters who were due up. The outcome, however, was swift and disastrous: three batters after Weaver entered, the Red Sox had seized the lead through a walk, a double, and a crucial two-run single.
Initially, Michael Kay admitted he was amenable to Boone's decision. Yet, after hearing the manager's detailed explanation, Kay expressed profound skepticism on YES Network’s postgame show. "When I walked into the studio, I was all for the decision," Kay stated, acknowledging the importance of not overextending a pitcher. But he sharply critiqued Boone's reasoning for letting Fried face 'just one more batter' against the bottom of the lineup. Kay argued that an ace, especially one signed to a substantial eight-year contract, is paid precisely to handle such moments and should be trusted to pitch deeper into high-stakes games.
Kay lambasted the move as a "blueprint move," implying it was a rigid, pre-determined strategy rather than an adaptable, in-game decision based on the pitcher's performance. He firmly believed it was not the opportune moment for Weaver, but rather for Fried to remain on the mound until his effectiveness clearly diminished. This contrasts sharply with the approach of Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who permitted his ace, Garrett Crochet, to throw a season-high 117 pitches over 7 2/3 innings in the very same game. As the Yankees stare down elimination, the intense scrutiny of Boone's pivotal pitching strategy and its underlying rationale continues to mount.
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Originally published at: https://nypost.com/2025/10/01/sports/michael-kay-blasts-aaron-boones-yankees-explanation-for-pulling-max-fried/
