The New York Yankees will need Gerrit Cole to continue his form after a Cy Young season last year. If there were anything positive to look back at last season for the NY side, then those were Cole and Anthony Volpe’s performances. Moreover, the Bronx Bombers had a terrible season in 2023. It is not even worth remembering. However, the 2023 American League Cy Young winner mentioned before the Spring Training began that the wound is still fresh. And Cole hopes the whole team will use it as a motivation this year. Last year, the Pinstripes did not make the postseason.
It was for the first time since 2016 that the Yankees could not qualify for the postseason. It was a tremendous shame for the organization because they finished with a horrible 82-80 record. The NY side looks for redemption in 2024. This time, the Yankees really look good, and not just on paper. Moreover, the 27-time champions are focusing hard on the spring training at the moment. Gerrit Cole is ready to have another great season in 2024. But in the game against the Toronto Blue Jays, Cole pitched a fastball that Daniel Vogelbach sent deep. Later, Cole and the slugger had an argument.
Gerrit Cole Rips Vogelbach For A Bat Flip
Clearly, Cole is already in the regular season mood. Vogelbach hit Cole’s fastball for a home run. That was alright, but the Blue Jays slugger gave a bat flip, which did not sit well with the 2023 AL Cy Young winner. Perhaps Cole thought the Toronto Blue Jays hitter’s home run trot was a little slow for the game happening on March 1. And it is not even the regular season yet. Later, in an interview with Bryan Hoch of MLB.com on Friday, Gerrit Cole mentioned that Vogelbach did enjoy the home run. But he jokingly asked, “Yeah, what’s the day? Are we in February or March?”
Gerrit Cole was no fan of Daniel Vogelbach's slow trot in the 1st inning.
— Bryan Hoch ⚾️ (@BryanHoch) March 2, 2024
“Yeah, what’s the day? Are we still in February? March 1st? Yeah, he enjoyed that homer.”
Asked if he would remember Vogelbach’s trot during the season, Cole replied: “I don’t forget a lot of things.”
Moreover, Hoch asked Cole if he would remember that bat flip. In reply, the Yankees ace pitcher mentioned that there a lot of things he don’t generally forget. Hence, fans can expect a good battle starting between Daniel Vogelbach and Gerrit Cole from that spring training game. Perhaps this beef will continue throughout the summer. Moreover, the Blue Jay slugger really crushed the fastball off Gerrit Cole. It is really hard to forget. Then, the bat flip was the icing on the cake.
Yankees Will Need Their Ace Pitcher To Take It All In And Use As Motivation In 2024
Earlier in the Spring Training, the 2023 Cy Young winner mentioned the memory of the last season is still very fresh, and the team will use it as motivation. The bat flip of Vogelbach was not as serious wound like what happened last year. Moreover, Cole feels that at the end of the day, he wants to be a world champion with the Yankees. That’s his main goal. But last season, the team performed so bad. Nothing really went their way.
Daniel Vogelbach absolutely CRUSHES one off Gerrit Cole pic.twitter.com/L6J3mXx6nV
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) March 1, 2024
Hence, this year, Cole would want to give his all to help the team make the postseason. And maybe even make the World Series. They have a perfect offense to do it. But the starting pitchers group might feel a little lack of depth. Anyhow, Cole will lead that department and use all those beefs as extra motivation.
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