The New York Yankees made headlines hours before their decisive Game 3 against the Boston Red Sox when manager Aaron Boone confirmed a surprise shift in the lineup. Instead of leaning on veteran Paul Goldschmidt , Boone handed the starting first base job to Ben Rice . The bold decision, announced Thursday afternoon, instantly sparked debate among fans and analysts.

This decision came after Boone’s initial plan throughout the series was to trust Goldschmidt against every left-handed pitcher. With a .271 postseason batting average that includes 26 hits, 8 home runs, 16 RBIs, and 13 runs scored across 25 games, his track record against southpaws and October experience made him the logical fit. But as the Yankees manager explained before the game, his decision ultimately came down t

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