...So you're telling me that the three guys we have that throw really hard are all getting lit up, and the two guys who throw junk without overtaxing themselves are having the best seasons? How about that?
2024 specifically, you are seeing what I am pretty sure is the beginning of the end of flashy, all or nothing pitching. It's become very clear that if you throw hard every time, it's not gonna be a long-lasting strategy, and you're gonna have to miss some time. Considering the amount of pitching injuries we've seen ALREADY, I think people are beginning to get the picture. Not everyone is built to throw that hard all the time, and we'll see how Paul Skenes is doing in another 10 years. But the biggest performers of the year so far have been people who are more tactical than overpowering. You've seen Ranger Suarez, George Kirby, Colin Rea, even Matt Waldron, get a lot done without overdoing it.
And so here we have Nestor Cortes, who doesn't have to throw 100 miles per hour to get you swinging.
I've seen Cortes pitch twice this year, and somehow I have tickets to see him again tomorrow in the Bronx. And if it were anybody else, I'd be going 'ach, him again', but even if he gets roughed up he's still a reliable, consistent pitcher who can keep hitters guessing. That was all he did on his initial come-up as a Yankee starter, just get in people's heads and strike 'em all out, and while people have eventually studied the tape on Cortes, he's still pretty potent. So far this year he's got a 3.50 ERA and a 1.105 WHIP, plus 98 strikeouts, 2nd on the team only to Luis Gil. Gil's stuff has gotten shakier as the year's gone on, and I think it's because he's been overtaxing himself. Meanwhile, Cortes has mellowed since a shaky April, and it's because he's not overthrowing or crying out for an IL stint. He's just doing enough to get you to go after it.
Marcus Stroman's similar, because he's not the strikeout guy he once was, but he's got a 3.29 ERA, a 7-3 record, and has finally begun to figure out how to pitch in the Bronx. There was some hubbub over him yelling at Gleyber Torres last week, but I think he's just a passionate player who really wants the rest of the team to try as hard as he does. And right now, honestly, he's got a point. We've finally hit the 'if Judge and Soto don't do anything then we're screwed' portion of the season, as Verdugo's gone cold, the lineup's plateau'd, and teams are just getting the best of these guys. So far the Reds haven't had much trouble with us, which, considering how hot and cold they can be, should be concerning. And it is telling that Carlos Rodon can strike out 8 Reds while Andrew Abbott strikes out only 2 Yankees and doesn't get many hits off 'em. Don't get cocky, just get the outs.
The Yankees run the rest of going as cold as they did last year, and while they do seem to be a better team than last year's, it's very easy to peak early and limp to the finish. Hopefully tomorrow night I'll see a more confident version of this team for the Yanks-Sox battle.
Coming Tonight: Ironically, the guy that killed the Yankees the last time I was there.
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