ONE UP, THREE DOWN
Yanks finish off A’s with third triple play of season
As crackdown begins, Cole’s set for anything
When Gerrit Cole takes the mound for the first time under MLB’s new crackdown on “sticky stuff,” all eyes will be on the Yankees ace. With a history of allegations, his comments and being one of the biggest stars in the game playing on the biggest stage, Cole has become the poster child for the issue. So the league will be watching to see if or how Cole is checked for a foreign substance before his start Tuesday against the Royals at the Stadium.
“I don’t have any expectations in terms of that. No,” Cole said of the crackdown, which begins today throughout MLB.
Aaron Boone said he is unsure how he will be treated by the umpires on Tuesday night either, but said he thinks it’s not fair that Cole has taken the majority of the heat on this issue.
“I understand it’s Gerrit Cole. I mean, so I understand we’re gonna focus on him,” Boone said. “But I think in a lot of ways, he’s become sort of the poster child. And I think he is not one of the people that have gone to a place that a lot of people in our game have gone to, to create an advantage.
“And so that’s kind of why I feel that way. He’s been vulnerable and answered a lot of questions about it. So, he’s been one of the lead stories on it,” Boone said. “Which I sorta get, but I also feel like he’s not one of the guys we’re talking about, necessarily, too.”
Cole has long been linked to the issue. His name first surfaced three years ago in a veiled allegation about his increased spin rate from his former UCLA teammate, Trevor Bauer. Then Cole’s name and a text message from him was used in a since-dismissed wrongful termination lawsuit by former Angels clubhouse attendant Bobby “Bubba” Harkins, who was known throughout the league for providing a homemade sticky concoction. Cole’s text asked Harkins for help with a “sticky situation” with a winky-face emoji. Sports Illustrated just recently reported that the text messages went on to discuss the substance. Corey Kluber, who is currently on the injured list, was also named by Sports Illustrated as having sticky stuff provided to him by Harkins.
Cole did not help his own reputation when he refused or could not answer a direct question of whether he had ever used Spider Tack, the substance that is considered at the heart of the issue. That came on the heels of Josh Donaldson pointing out that Cole’s spin rate suddenly dropped in his first start after MLB suspended four minor-league pitchers for using an illegal substance to get more tack on the ball.
Cole said there had been more conversation with the league over the last week as it tries to figure out how this crackdown will be implemented, but there is still so much uncertainty. Umpires, who accept that they are “the cops on the field,” aren’t thrilled about being thrown into this in the middle of the season, But there is very little on how this will work. There are questions about pitchers being able to use sunscreen in day games and how much of the pitchers’ and catchers’ equipment umpires will inspect.
“That’s part of what we need more clarity on,” said Cole, who serves on the union’s executive committee. “I haven’t had a chance to speak to Aaron today yet. That’s one of the things on my list, to see if he can clarify any of those types of things. But I know those conversations continue to be had when we get updates from (union head Tony Clark) . ... So those things should be ironed out as best it can going into Monday so that we know what to expect.
“In all reality, just like any implementation of something new, there are probably going to be things that we’re going to continue to need to iron out. So, applying a little bit of patience is probably the right move to this, and an abundance of caution, until we get really solidified in how this is going to carry out going forward.”
MLB banned all substances besides the rosin bags that are behind the mounds. They will suspend a pitcher 10 days (with pay) if he is found to be using anything more. Boone said he has had several conversations with his pitchers and catchers about the expectations.
“Certainly we’re not trying to be ejected. We know the ramifications on the roster and whatnot moving forward from that,” Cole said. “So it’s gonna be interesting to see, and we’ll be prepared, obviously, to adjust here and ... be within the rules.”