Welcome, Yankees, to the perplexing challenges that losing teams face. Gone are the days of strategizing the final weeks of the regular season to align the starting rotation for the playoffs. Instead, the Yankees are faced with the debate of whether to shut down Gerrit Cole. While there hasn’t been any public discussion on the matter, it begs the question: why should Cole continue pitching in meaningless September games? Shouldn’t he conserve his arm for more important moments?
Part of the answer lies in Cole’s pursuit of his first Cy Young Award and solidifying his Hall of Fame credentials. Despite a subpar performance in a recent loss to the Red Sox, Cole remains the frontrunner for the American League’s top pitcher. He leads in ERA, quality starts, and innings pitched. Winning the Cy Young would greatly enhance his career, considering the handful of Hall of Fame pitchers who never won the award.
However, Yankees fans, yearning for another World Series appearance, may not prioritize individual accolades. They recall Alex Rodriguez winning two MVPs while Derek Jeter fell short. So, it’s not just about personal achievements; the Yankees owe it to Cole.
They owe it to him for being the MVP on a forgettable team, for his durability and mentorship of younger pitchers, and for consistently delivering strong performances despite lackluster run support. Unlike the Mets, who might ease off their ace Kodai Senga, Cole has exceeded 200 innings in multiple seasons, demonstrating his endurance.
The Yankees have already shown some caution by giving Cole extra rest between starts. Completely shutting him down, though, is a different matter. If there’s a chance to witness greatness in an otherwise dismal season, the Yankees should let him pitch. There’s no scientific evidence supporting the idea that sitting out September guarantees greatness in future seasons.
And who knows? Maybe the Yankees will make a late surge and Cole can pitch in a game with a chance to clinch the Cy Young and extend their streak of non-losing seasons. That’s the excitement they can hope for in October.
In the world of football, the unofficial transition from MLB to NFL season in New York could feature Aaron Rodgers making his Jets debut against the Giants in a preseason game. Jets head coach Robert Saleh won’t risk Rodgers’ health and will likely give the offensive starters some playing time. On the other hand, Giants head coach Brian Daboll seems focused on using the preseason to make roster decisions rather than giving starters extensive playing time. As NFL coaches adapt to the shortened preseason, it seems Daboll prioritizes getting a taste of preseason action while minimizing the risk of injuries.
Overall, the Yankees and Jets face different decisions regarding their star players in September, but both teams must find the balance between individual achievements and the long-term interests of the franchise.
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