New York Yankees: Gerrit Cole accused of using sticky substances, again

While we wait for the famous “Yankee Letter” release, the New York Yankees might have another sticky situation brewing. Got it? It was supposed to be a joke. We could be talking about how this letter may upset many and can make a redemption tour for the Astros fans. But, instead, we are talking about pine tar or “spider tack.” again. If we talk about sticky substances, a name always comes up, Gerrit Cole.

Cole had his last start on Sunday against the Cleveland Guardians. He did pretty well; many said he is getting back to the vicious Gerrit Cole form. He went 6.2 innings, allowed only four hits with no earned runs, and struck out nine batters at Yankee Stadium.

New York Yankees in a sticky situation with Gerrit Cole?

A fan on Twitter pointed out that Cole was rubbing his pants a lot before throwing a pitch. Where was he rubbing? Great question. He was rubbing his butt. Right butt cheek, to be exact. Chris Poulos, the fan that captured the video while watching the game on TV, got a portion of Amed Rosario’s at-bat against Cole. The Yankees ace touches his pants before and after a pitch. The video shows two pitches from Cole, and the video is edited between both angles.

Was Cole cheating? Most likely not. After the sticky substance ban of last year, umpires are constantly checking pitcher hands in between innings. You can also see him licking his hand before the windup of a pitch. Is he then eating the substance before getting out of the mound? Freaky, but probably not. The accusation comes as Cole production has recently declined after the foreign substance rule change. Especially after a video resurfaced of Cole gripping his hat and having trouble getting his hand off the visor. His hands looked like they were sticking to the brim in slow motion. The record was from a complete game outing against the Rays in 2020.

Cole received a massive contract by the Yankees in 2020 after a stellar 2019 season with the Astros. He came in second place on Cy Young and player over 200 innings with a 2.50 ERA. He also has a career-high 326 strikeouts in a season. However, after the season, a scandal came out for Cole while texts resurfaced from an exchange between the star pitcher and former Angels clubhouse manager, Brian Harkins. The conversation was about Cole asking for a particular substance that Harkins made.

Fans are trying to create chaos as the Yankees have been in a spiral since before the season started. Aaron Judge did not agree to an extension. Their new acquisitions did not impress the fanbase; Aroldis Chapman’s status has changed, fans throwing garbage at the Cleveland Guardians in Yankee Stadium, Aaron Boone intentionally walked Miguel Cabrera on the brink of history, Joey Gallo, and now the Yankee Letter. However, New York is doing good in the standings with a 10-6 record and sitting in second place in the division behind Toronto.

Gerrit Cole’s accusation of cheating is most likely from a fan that needs attention. Cole has always been a target, mainly because he has gotten upset for comments about him and usually is not an outgoing guy. But Cole is just an unpredictable pitcher. He can pitch a complete game in one start and be out in the second inning in the next start. That is his nature, and the New York Yankees paid for it.

So, let’s just wait for the succeeding considerable controversy. Prepare that popcorn. It is going to be wild!