Yankees 3B coach Phil Nevin let go following much-criticized decision vs. Red Sox
Just nine days following the abrupt end to their 2021 season, the New York Yankees began cleaning house on Thursday.
According to multiple reports, the Yankees have chosen not to renew the contracts of hitting coach Marcus Thames, third base coach Phil Nevin and assistant hitting coach P.J. Pilittere. Earlier this week, it was reported that the organization was "inclined" to keep manager Aaron Boone on for next season, though he isn't currently under contract for 2022.
As noted by ESPN's Buster Olney, Nevin came under fire following New York's loss to the Boston Red Sox in the wild-card game last week for a pivotal decision to wave Aaron Judge home against a Boston relay late in the contest.
"Nevin later defended his decision in an interview with the New York Post, but evaluators with other teams privately say that it was the wrong choice given that the Yankees were down by two runs," Olney wrote. "There is history for the Yankees in one decision leading to the dismissal of a third base coach. In the 1980 playoffs, third base coach Mike Ferraro waved home Willie Randolph, who was thrown out — and owner George Steinbrenner insisted that Ferrero be fired immediately. Manager Dick Howser refused and ultimately resigned after the season."
Nevin had been the team's third base coach since he joined the club when Boone became manager in 2017.
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