They said it with different words, but the sentiment seemed to be the same, as was the sense of relief with which they said it.
For Gerrit Cole, it came last March in spring training. For Carlos Rodon, it came on Sunday.
The common theme? Settling into their pinstripes.
“It seems like things are more familiar,” Cole said on March 3, 2023, during his fourth spring training as a Yankee but the first normal one (non-COVID impacted, non-lockout shortened). “I find myself being more curious about the game and spending more brain power on the game, as opposed to making sure I’m not showing up late or calling somebody by the wrong name and I’m not looking like I’m assimilating here because people are always looking at me. I want to do things right. I got that kind of boxed up.”
