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By Dan Martin in Minneapolis and Ken Davidoff in New York
Gerrit Cole sticks to his story that he has more concerns than his opponents’ accusations of wrongdoing.
The ace Yankees held by far the least comfortable press conference during their planned run on Tuesday afternoon, receiving a number of questions regarding accusations that his success stems largely from baseball manipulation. Cool Tap danced around several inquiries and refused to answer directly a question if he used Spider Tack, a paste that has become popular among shooters.
“I don’t quite know how to answer that, to be honest,” Cole said during a Zoom press conference at Target Field, before the Yankees opened a series with the twins. “There are habits and practices that have been passed down from older players to younger players to the last generation of players for this generation of players, and I think there are some things that are definitely off-limits in that regard, and I have stood firm on that, in terms of communication between our peers. and so on.
“[T]It’s important to a lot of people who love the game, including the players in this room. Including fans. Including the difference. If MLB wants to legalize more things, this is a conversation we can have because ultimately we all have to go in the same direction on this.”
Gerrit Cole and the Yankees will face Josh Donaldson this week after Cole has been called up. Charles Wenselberg/New York Post
Major League Baseball, concerned about the sheer number of hits in the game, soon intends to increase the application of rules to writers regarding shooters who use illegal substances, Joel Sherman of The Post reported last week.
Manager Aaron Boone said the team discussed the upcoming incremental application.
It’s something we’ve had in our room as often as, ‘This stuff is coming,’ said Boone. ‘If we’re doing anything outside of the dull baseboard or below, we need to clean it up. We talked about it as a group.”
When asked if he sees a difference between long-used substances like pine tar and sunscreen, which shooters have used to improve their grip, and something like Spider Tack, Cole said, “I think there’s precedent for saying that, yes…definitely in situations that have been done.” Checking people and calling them before, it’s over. There’s a difference there, too much, on the line.
“I don’t understand why the landscape has changed now in this regard. I don’t have all the data or information needed to specifically pick the materials I mentioned and what they may or may not have an impact on. But I think there are things that are probably at stake and cause more emotion and more. More anxiety and more stress about some of the big things in the industry. But then again, it’s not the whole picture.”
Third twins, Josh Donaldson, caused uproar last week when he singled out Cole, referring to his last right-hand start on June 3, when he lost to Rice, 9-2: “Is it a coincidence that Gerrit Cole’s turnover numbers fell after four players were suspended from Minor League for 10 games? Is it possible? I don’t know. Can. At the same time, with this attitude, they let the men do it.”
On Donaldson’s comment, Cole said, “I kind of thought it was some kind of hanging fruit, but he’s entitled to his opinion. I have other things I need to focus on. With respect, I can’t worry about that kind of thing, but I can say That as a member of the federation’s executive board, part of my job, part of my role here is to facilitate communication about all things that involve the game. I am open to doing that.”
The two will face each other Wednesday, when Cole starts against Donaldson and the twins.
Cole said his turnover dropped last week because “it’s not as good or as intense as I wanted it to be. Easy like that.”
Gerrit Cole was noticeably uncomfortable answering reporters’ questions about the sticky foreign matter. Charles Wenselberg/New York Post
In 2018, Cole’s former UCSD classmate Trevor Bauer posted a tweet that made clear, without explicit accusation, that the Astros — who had acquired Cole the previous season — were pushing the boundaries with the sticky stuff to improve their turnover rates.
“It doesn’t make me happy,” Cole said of the insinuations and allegations. “I am not thrilled about it. But as far as this matter is concerned, I have to leave it where it is.”
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