Aaron Boone's Nestor Cortes call stuns scouts, and not in a good way

Nestor Cortes is known for his courage. Even before he said he was willing to take a chance on a ring next season, everyone knew Cortes had guts for him.

But sometimes courage isn't enough.

While it wasn't entirely shocking that Aaron Boone showed astonishing faith in the brave, beloved Cortes, choosing him to pitch over Shohei Ohtani and Freddie Freeman with the game on the line in the 10th inning, it was a risk wasn't worth taking.

Tim Hill was ready and that should have been his spot. Hill has been dominant this October, allowing just one run in 5²/₃ innings.

“You can't throw someone in there who A) hasn't pitched in five weeks and B) is a starting pitcher without a high-velocity fastball,” one scout said of Cortes, who gave up the game-winning grand slam to Freddie Freeman at 3-for-6 -Yankees loss in Game 1.

“He hasn’t participated in over a month!” said a second scout in disbelief.

It's not like Boone had Tanner Scott, Josh Hader, or a true shutdown lefty to go against two of the toughest lefties in baseball, if not the two best lefties. But he had a left-handed hitter who did that job well all year long in Hill.

No one in the Yankees clubhouse questioned the call to join Cortes. Hill said, “Whatever Boonie decides, we all trust him.”

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Boone defended the call.

“I just liked the matchup,” he said. “The reality is he's thrown the ball really well the last few weeks he's been preparing. I knew it would be difficult to double Shohei if one was out there, with Tim Hill putting him on the floor and then Mookie (Betts{ behind him) being a tough fight there. That’s why I felt confident with Nestor at this point.”

Cortes said he feels ready. “Coming in I had all the confidence in the world,” Cortes said.

Cortes exudes confidence and courage. But sometimes that's not enough.