Gerrit Cole struggles vs. Twins, but Yankees fans and Boone back him: ‘Give him time’

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The Yankees entered Thursday’s Spring Training matchup against the Minnesota Twins looking to fine-tune their roster ahead of the regular season. As the game moved into the eighth inning, New York was trailing 8-3 at the time of writing. The biggest talking point of the day? Gerrit Cole’s rough Spring Training game, which sparked immediate backlash from baseball fans and, ironically, redirected some of the frustration toward manager Aaron Boone.

Why Gerrit Cole’s tough outing raises concerns

It’s only Spring Training, but Gerrit Cole’s performance against the Twins was far from encouraging. This Thursday, the Yankees’ ace struggled to settle in, lasting just 2.2 innings while allowing six earned runs on five hits and striking out two. His command was shaky at times, and the Twins took advantage, making solid contact and forcing him out of the game earlier than expected.

Despite this, Cole’s struggles in exhibition games are nothing new. Historically, the right-hander has treated Spring Training as a time to tinker with his mechanics and work on new pitches rather than focus on results. However, given his inconsistencies last season, some fans are less willing to overlook the poor start, with some criticism even coming from opposing sides, such as Mets fans

The Yankees’ fanbase held back after Cole’s subpar game, with many avoiding voicing their concerns on social media. A portion of the criticism was directed at Boone, who has developed a reputation for defending his players even when their performances suggest otherwise. One comment on Facebook summed up the frustration, questioning why Boone always downplays poor outings. Some fans pointed out Cole’s recurring struggles against the Twins, noting how Minnesota seems to have his number even in Spring Training. While some tried to put the situation into perspective—stressing that these games are meant for adjustments—others were less forgiving, particularly in light of last season’s disappointing finish.

Boone downplays concerns over Gerrit Cole

Yankees manager Aaron Boone was the strongest voice backing Gerrit Cole after the ace’s Spring Training performance. Gerrit Cole started strong but struggled with fastball command, which led to some hard-hit balls. Despite this, Boone made it clear that there’s no reason for concern.

“I thought the stuff was good, the fastball had the same life, the velocity was there when he wanted it,” Boone said during the broadcast. “He was just a little off with his command and missed in the heart of the plate in some spots.”

Beyond command issues, Boone pointed out that a few unusual plays made things tougher for Gerrit Cole on the mound. A failed double play attempt and a check swing that resulted in a close play at third base contributed to a longer-than-expected inning.

“There were some weird plays. We didn’t turn the double play, there was that check swing where we almost got the guy at third,” Boone explained. “But overall, he just wasn’t real sharp with his fastball command. Nothing to be worried about.”

While Gerrit Cole’s stat line wasn’t ideal, Boone emphasized that the right-hander still got the workload the Yankees had planned for him. With around 50 pitches over three innings, the manager saw it as a step forward in Gerrit Cole’s Spring Training buildup.

“With Gerrit, you take what you got today and move on to the next one,” Boone summed up. With Opening Day approaching, the Yankees expect Gerrit Cole to keep refining his command to be at peak form when the regular season begins.

Yankees fans still frustrated with Boone’s tenure

For many Yankees fans, the backlash against Boone has been building for years. The organization’s decision to retain him for another season despite a lack of championships under his leadership has been a divisive topic. The Yankees’ World Series appearance in 2024—their first since 2009—momentarily quieted critics, but losing to the Dodgers in the Fall Classic reignited discussions about Boone’s ability to lead the team to a title.

His tenure has been marked by multiple postseason shortcomings, and some fans believe that continuing with Boone signals a lack of ambition from the front office. Others criticize his player-friendly approach, arguing that he doesn’t hold underperforming stars accountable. Some still reference 2023, a year in which the Yankees missed the playoffs, as a moment that should have led to his dismissal. Instead, he remained at the helm, a decision that continues to divide the fanbase.

Evaluating Gerrit Cole’s recent performance

Gerrit Cole’s struggles in Spring Training are amplified by the fact that his 2024 season was inconsistent by his standards. Last year, he finished with an 8-5 record and a 3.41 ERA across 17 starts. While those numbers are respectable, they are not quite what the Yankees expect from their $324 million ace. His postseason numbers were significantly better, as he pitched to a 2.17 ERA over 29 innings, but the critical error in Game 5 of the World Series remains a sore spot for Yankees fans. That moment left lingering doubts about whether he can still be relied upon as the undisputed ace of the staff.

Despite the noise, Cole remains the Yankees’ top starter heading into 2025. The team has bolstered its rotation by adding Max Fried, which should take some of the pressure off Cole. But with his fastball velocity dipping slightly in 2024—dropping 0.8 mph compared to the previous year—there are legitimate concerns about whether he can maintain his dominance as he enters his age-34 season.

Yankees fans will be watching closely in his next few Spring Training starts to see if he can make the necessary adjustments. The front office has made significant investments to position the team for another deep postseason run, but with expectations sky-high, patience is already running thin.

Boone and Cole both have little margin for error once the games start counting.

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