Gerrit Cole (Elsa/Getty Images)
Gerrit Cole said the ace as the New York Yankees pitcher is MLB’s toughest role as he prepares to start Game 1 of the American League Division Series against the Cleveland Guardians on Tuesday.
“I think it’s the hardest job in the league,” Kerr told The Athletic’s Lindsey Adler. “I don’t think it’s harder than being an ace. I think it’s the most sought-after job in the league, and I think it’s got the most weight. The division is an f-king [gauntlet]. The most important thing is otherwise, I get paid to keep us in the game for as long as possible and take the ball every f-king time I can and go straight to the fire.”
The 32-year-old California native signed a nine-year, $324 million deal ahead of the 2020 season, accepting his role as the Yankees’ No. 1 starter. The pressure to come. He barely lived up to expectations, in 455 innings in 75 starts for New York Had 594 strikeouts, had a 3.28 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. Cole told Ader He could have signed anywhere, joking that he could have been closer to home to “grill burgers, drink beer and gamble on football games” than prepare for the playoffs if he joined the Los Angeles Angels, but he’s been treated as “The pressure of a ya attracts,” said the five-time All-Star. “The level of commitment to winning here is unchallenged league-wide. ” He added: “I love fighting, I guess. But just because I like it, doesn’t mean it’s not difficult. ” Every year a champ-or-bust of the Yankees, who have more 27 World Series titles than any other MLB team 16 more. That level of expectation hasn’t changed, even after teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets released the league The era of the highest salary. The Yankees have a 99-63 record this year to win the AL East, but If they don’t translate that into playoff success, it’ll just be a footnote. “You throw in the regular season Every game of ‘s is an opportunity to adjust your process and the way you do business so that in this case it becomes automated,” Cole told Adler. Game 1 between the Yankees and the Guards I’m scheduled for Tuesday night at Yankee Stadium at 7:37pm ET. The TV coverage will be On TBS.
