It is time for all Yankee fans to appreciate the greatness of our ace Gerrit Cole. When Cole came over from the Astros in 2019, it felt like the Yankees had their first workhorse ace since CC Sabathia. No disrespect to Masahiro Tanaka who was a great Yankee and an all-time postseason pitcher. Gerrit Cole signed for huge money and every Yankee fan wanted to see him live up to those expectations and he absolutely has.
I will be the first to admit I have had my doubts about Cole and have lashed out in certain situations. He struggled in the Wild Card game in 2021 against the Red Sox where he went only two innings giving up three earned runs. Including that game I always felt Cole was good, but I thought he never showed up in the big games when we needed him.
Since that day, Gerrit Cole has shut me and all the Yankee haters up. In 2022 Gerrit Cole went 13-8 with a 3.50 ERA and struck out a league-high 257 batters. It wasn’t his greatest regular season, but he followed it up with a dominant ALDS series vs. the Guardians. Cole started two games where he pitched 13.1 innings, only allowing three earned runs and striking out 16 batters.
He has now started this season off better than anyone could have predicted. I’m not sure if the play clock is helping Cole’s rhythm where he doesn’t have to think as much, but whatever it is, it’s working. Cole is now 4-0 on the season and has pitched to a 0.95 ERA. This includes the two-hit complete-game shutout that he just threw against the Twins.
Coming to New York is never easy. We’ve seen pitchers like Sonny Gray, AJ Burnett, Michael Pineda who have great stuff never make it in New York because they don’t have the mindset. Gerrit Cole is not one of those guys. This man was born to pitch in New York and born to pitch under the brightest lights.
It is time to appreciate Gerrit Cole more. Appreciate the workhorse that he is and appreciate the greatness he gives us. I guarantee there is nothing Cole loves more than being a Yankee, so as Yankee fans, let’s show him that we love having him here.
Gerrit Cole for 2023 CY Young.
Cam's Corner 