Anthony Rizzo is not to blame for Gerrit Cole's lack of hustle, awareness

The top of the fifth inning of Game 5 of the 2024 World Series will go down alongside the darkest moments in New York Yankees history. Up 5-0 in a must-win game with Gerrit Cole on the mound, the Yankees allowed the Los Angeles Dodgers to score five unearned runs, tying the content and going on to end the Bronx Bombers' season in front of the home crowd at Yankee Stadium.

Unfortunately for former Chicago Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo, he was at the center of the team's unraveling. With the bases loaded and two outs, Mookie Betts hit a grounder toward Rizzo at first. The veteran took several steps toward the first base line, fielding the ball well behind the bag. After starting toward first, Cole stopped - and Betts took advantage of the miscue, beating it out to keep the inning alive.

Both men offered up their explanations for the miscommunication following the team's season-ending loss on Wednesday, but it's done little to calm down an incensed Yankees fan base.

“Pitchers are always taught to get over, no matter what,” Rizzo said. “It was just a weird spinning [ball] that I had to really make sure to [secure]. And I think, even coming through [and going directly] to first, I don’t know if I would have [gotten] him.”

After watching and re-watching the play over and over, I don't see how the blame lies with Rizzo. Cole should have covered the bag and, even if Betts still beat it out, that's a more acceptable outcome - at least it was a clean play defensively.

It's certainly not the lasting image Rizzo wants out there heading into free agency this winter, especially coming off arguably the worst season of his big-league career. Now 35, he's in the twilight era of his playing days, and despite rushing back from two broken fingers to play in the ALCS and World Series, there are real questions about his value moving forward.