They are five games. These are five games in which Gerrit Cole has started twice. It’s five games, the last two against the Orioles, the sole reason for being in existence could be to pump up the Yankees’ confidence and record.
But have you noticed that the Yankees pitching was brilliant after five games?
Yankees-pitchers would have a goalless streak of 25 innings if you read this sentence when they had a short stop. But they have Gleyber Torres, who casually leads the majors defensively. He turned what should have been the last out of the game, a routine grounder, into a single by Ryan Mountcastle. Rio Ruiz followed with a two-run homer off Lucas Luetge and instead of beating the Orioles 7-0 for a second game in a row, the Yankees won 7-2.
Still, even with the gifted two runs, the Yankees’ ERA through five games is 1.76. The batting average against is .190. Virtually every pitcher except Domingo German has performed well and on Tuesday-evening, Cole was as good as he could be, which means better than any other starter on the planet not called Jacob deGrom.
“Everything worked for him,” said Kyle Higashioka.
Cole struckout 13 batters in seven shutout innings when the Yanks defeated the Orioles for the 12th consecutive time at The Bronx and for the 26th time in the last 30 games in total. The right hand was precise and overwhelming with its fastball, topping in triple digits. His slider was a knockout punch. And his growing confidence in and use of his change has spawned more guns, especially against left-wing hitters.
Still, for the 2021 Yankees, the question would never be about the ace. The concern was the rest of the rotation and a bullpen that started the year with injured Zack Britton and Justin Wilson. But through five games – again only five games – the staff did not allow more than three runs in a game.
“I think we have good pitchers first of all,” said Aaron Boone. “I felt like I was going to spring training. I felt that our 13-20 vying for the last spots on a squad was definitely as deep as it has been since I’ve been here. I feel like all our boys had good strong springs and were well built. And I feel like they are throwing well across the board. “
One of the spring’s inspirations was Jameson Taillon, currently the only member of the Yankee to open the 26-man squad who doesn’t play. That changes on Wednesday when the 29-year-old takes the ball in a game that counts for the first time in 707 days; for the first time since his second Tommy John operation.
Much of this Yankees season is about what the non-Cole starters have to offer, especially the quartet that has barely pitched for the past two years: Taillon, German, Corey Kluber and ultimately, the Yankees, Luis Severino, hope. Boone called it, “The million dollar question in Major League Baseball this year.” Who can stay healthy and persevere after a shortened or absent workload in the pandemic 2020 60-game season. For the Yanks, the mystery deepens due to the lack of innings for so many important pitchers for two years.
The mystery for Taillon continues a bit further – does he still have a substantial career? Once good enough to be the runner-up in the 2010 draft, Taillon dreamed of collecting 100 WAR (10 pitchers have ever done that) and winning 20 games in 15 consecutive years. But he had Tommy John surgery, then testicular cancer, and then a second Tommy John surgery.
The latter came after the Pirates traded their ace after the 2018 season. That was Cole. In 2019 it would be Taillon’s turn to become number 1. But he only made seven starts. He tried to avoid the second surgery knowing he would likely return from a repeat procedure. He called this the ‘lowest point’ of his career.
Some more resonance and meaning to what arrives Wednesday.
“I think this is going to sound mostly silly. I’m excited to be part of the Yankees and go up the hill from Yankee Stadium and get to work,” said Taillon. “I am ready to put rehabilitation in the past. I am ready to contribute to this team and compete every fifth day and get the ball. “
What he wants to be today is Charlie Morton. Taillon participated in spring practice with Morton when both were Pirates and Morton was still frustrated with injuries and unfulfilled talent. But over the past five years, starting with his 33-year season, Morton has been an elite starter, learning to better prepare his body and use his stuff. At the age of 29, Taillon said, “I feel that there is still a lot ahead of me.”
Hundred WAR may be over. But Taillon will try to keep the Yankees’ good pitching vibes going and take Step 1 again to prove that a substantial career is still possible.