Yankees Fire Third Base Coach After Wild Card Game Gaffe

 

After a botched call that may have cost the New York Yankees the chance to get back into the Wild Card game, third base coach Phil Nevin has been handed his walking papers. 

News: Yankees have also informed third base coach Phil Nevin that his contract will not be renewed for the 2022 season.

— Lindsey Adler (@lindseyadler) October 14, 2021

In the 6th inning of the Yankees' Wild Card loss to the Boston Red Sox, trailing by just two runs, Nevin waved home Aaron Judge on a line drive off the wall by Giancarlo Stanton, even though it was fairly clear Judge had little chance of scoring.

Judge was out by a mile (well, 10 feet, to be more precise), and the Yankees never got back into the game, losing 6-2, ending their season. 

The 50-year-old Nevin was roasted by Yankee fans afterwards, and with his contract up for renewal at season's end, his fate seemed inevitable.

Nevin: there’s no reason you should be sending me home now.
Yankees: now you understand.

— Julian (@JulianG922) October 14, 2021

Stanton's ball was hit so hard, and the ricochet off the wall came back so far, that the relay throw had Judge dead-to-rights.  

Nevin had been with the organization for three years, coming on at the same time as manager Aaron Boone. It didn't help that the Yankees also had an MLB-high 22 runners thrown out at home. 

Now, Nevin is sent home. 

Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports