After throwing again, Cole bemoans MLB, union bickering over pitch clock
NEW YORK » New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole faulted Major League Baseball and the players’ association for bickering over the pitch clock last weekend, comparing their behavior to divorced parents.
The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner and former member of the union’s eight-man executive subcommittee spoke about the union’s statement Saturday that questioned whether the clock caused pitcher injuries and MLB’s response dismissing the concerns. Cole has been sidelined since spring training by right elbow inflammation.
“I’m just frustrated it’s a combative issue,” he said. “It’s like, OK, we have divorced parents and the child’s misbehaving and we can’t get on the same page to get the child to behave, not that the players are misbehaving, but we have an issue here and we need to get on the same page to at least try and fix it.”
Cole spoke after throwing for the first time since he was diagnosed with the elbow injury. The 33-year-old right-hander is on the 60day injured list and hopes to return in June.
Players’ association head Tony Clark in a statement Saturday claimed a shorter pitch clock — which MLB instituted despite player opposition — has contributed to a series of pitcher injuries. Cleveland’s Shane Bieber, Atlanta’s Spencer Strider, the New York Yankees’ Jonathan Loáisiga, Miami’s Eury Pérez and Oakland’s Trevor Gott are among the pitchers recently diagnosed with elbow injuries.
Astros scratch Valdez
ARLINGTON, TEXAS » The Houston Astros scratched All-Star left-hander Framber Valdez from his scheduled start Monday against the Texas Rangers. There was no immediate word on a reason.
The Astros called up right-hander Blair Henley from Triple-A Sugar Land. The 26-year-old was set for his major league debut.
Valdez had no-decisions in his first two starts, both Houston losses. He has allowed three runs in 12 1/3 innings.
Bieber emotional as surgery looms
CLEVELAND » Shane Bieber held it together as long as he could. The Guardians ace has spent the past few days trying to process his new reality — Tommy John surgery and not pitching again this season.
It’s been harder than he imagined.
His voice choked with emotion, Bieber paused while speaking to reporters for the first time since deciding to have surgery.
“Baseball will be there,” the 2020 Cy Young winner said. “I will be here. It’s easy to keep things in perspective. It’s just an injury that I’ll get past. I’m not the first person, won’t be the last. One of the things that is a bit more difficult for me is that throughout the offseason and in spring training, I did figure some things out and my performance was getting back to the place that I knew I was capable of.
“I was falling back in love with pitching, and I was having a lot of fun.”