Gerrit Cole got the win on Thursday night against the Red Sox, but he also surrendered two more bombs to Rafael Devers, bringing back painful memories of his disastrous start at Fenway in the 2021 Wild Card Game.
Cole has already shown his ability to come up big for the Yanks, as he did in the decisive game five against the Rays in the 2020 ALDS, but his susceptibility to the long ball and his struggles against Devers and the Red Sox as Tiki just a tad bit concerned about Cole’s ability to lead the Yanks to a World Series.
“He’s come here to be the ace…be that dude when you get into the postseason that carries the Yankees to the ALCS, the World Series, and hopefully to a championship.
“You just want Gerrit Cole to be that guy. You’re paying him to be that guy. As much as I want to believe it…I still don’t know if I can trust him. I want to. I really do.”
When it comes to Devers, and facing Boston in a potential playoff matchup if the Red Sox grab a Wild Card spot, Tiki can’t see himself having much faith that Cole will shut it down when he’s on the mound in October.
“I cannot sit here and trust that Gerrit Cole is going to figure this out,” Tiki said.
But if he were Matt Blake, Tiki would try and tell Cole to trust his ability to get guys like Devers out, and not as much his mind.
“Stop thinking, and just pitch,” Tiki said. “It’s not as hard as he made it look last night, especially against Rafael Devers.”
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