In Gerrit Cole's sensational 2023 season, this stat may stand out above the rest
TORONTO – For all of Gerrit Cole’s sparkling statistics this year, the foundational number is 33.
That’s how many starts the Yankees’ ace made in 2023.
“It’s part of his greatness,’’ manager Aaron Boone said Thursday of Cole’s ability to consistently post every fifth or sixth day.
After a pair of wins at Rogers Centre, the Yankees lost 6-0 to the Blue Jays on Thursday night.
Cole (15-4, league-best 2.63 ERA) all but sewed up the AL Cy Young award with Wednesday’s 6-0, two-hit shutout victory, once more dominating a Blue Jays club trying to punch a postseason ticket via the wild card.
Boone called it “a pitching clinic. I think it embodied his season right there,’’ while Aaron Judge called it “the cherry on top of an incredible season.
“He’s been a lifelong Yankee fan,’’ said Judge. “He wanted to come to the city and perform and it’s all coming true.’’
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Except for the 2020 pandemic interrupted season, Cole has averaged 32 starts per year since 2017, due largely to expert pitching mechanics “and the work that he puts in all year long, 365 (days per year),’’ said Boone.
On the Yankees’ staff this season, only Clarke Schmidt – who’ll make his 32nd start Saturday at Kansas City – has been able to take the ball as consistently as Cole, 33, in his 11th big league season.
Injuries to Frankie Montas (0 starts), Luis Severino (18 starts), Carlos Rodon (13 starts) and Nestor Cortes (12 starts) contributed to the Yankees’ first playoff-less season since 2016, along with an overinflated lineup that underperformed.
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Aaron Judge’s right big toe injury cost him 42 team games, and his 37 home runs in just 357 at-bats – including two homers in support of Cole’s 6-0 shutout victory Wednesday – is another remarkable achievement in a lost Yankee year.
And the idea of Cole not being able to extend his Cy Young-worthy season into October was not lost on the team’s captain late Wednesday night.
“We’ll get that figured out. We’ll get that taken care of,’’ Judge said, again hinting at the necessary changes to come before next Opening Day.
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On the pitching side, the Yankees plan to be in the pursuit for Japan League star Yoshinobu Yamamoto, 25, who is expected to pitch in the majors next season.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman was on a scouting trip to Japan this summer when Yamamoto tossed his second career no-hitter, but there should be a strong field of contenders for the right-hander, including the Mets.
In his first full season as a starter, Schmidt, should be firmly in the mix next season, though he’s also one of the Yanks’ primary trade chips.
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Michael King’s transition from multi-inning bullpen weapon to being a potential frontline starter became one of the better developments of the second half.
Severino and Montas, who might make an appearance this weekend at Kansas City, are heading into free agency and appear unlikely to return.
Along with Montas, Boone said it's possible that reliever Keynan Middleton (shoulder) could be activated this weekend against the Royals, in what amounts to three exhibition games.
Coming back from a left rotator cuff strain, Cortes has already begun a throwing program in anticipation of being a full-go for spring training.
Gerrit Cole's evolution as a pitcher continues
And the Yanks must hope for better from Rodon, who dealt with forearm and back issues after signing a six-year, $162 million free agent contract, though injuries have plagued him in the past.
Which is to admire, again, Cole’s ability to take every turn and perform at the highest level – a true definition of a team ace.
“It’s just been fun to watch his continued evolution and growth as a pitcher,’’ said Boone, including the increased use of the cutter and curveball. “He’s never satisfied.
“He’s constantly searching for areas where he can get a little bit better, always trying to improve on the margins. He’s obsessed with getting better.
“I do believe he’s starting to truly get that appreciation around the league for his consistent excellence.’’
Yankees' final regular season series on deck
Against the 105-loss Royals, the Yankees (81-78) need one victory their three-game set to extend their streak of winning seasons since 1993.
Before Thursday's game, Boone said that first baseman Anthony Rizzo - sidelined since early August due to post-concussion symptoms - has progressed to the point where "he's a healthy player in my mind'' going into 2024.
"He's doing really well, already getting after it from a workout standpoint,'' said Boone. "I feel like he's got a chance to have a great offseason.''
Toronto veteran Chris Bassitt (7.2 scoreless innings) outdueled Yankees starter Luke Weaver, who gave up two runs in four innings, on solo homers by Daulton Varsho and Matt Chapman.
On the bench, Weaver kept up a steady conversation with Cole, whose observations about pitching are "stuff I'm writing down and taking into the offseason.''
After six seasons in the minors, Yankees right-handed reliever Yoendrys Gomez made his MLB debut Thursday night, finishing with two scoreless innings and four strikeouts.
"Great experience,'' Gomez said through an interpreter. "I kept working 'til I had an opportunity.''
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Gerrit Cole: Potential Cy Young season highlights this stat
