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Gerrit Cole kicked off his first live batting practice of the spring on Monday and he had Gary Sanchez behind the plate.
One of the stories of spring – and beyond – will be who the Yankees team with their ace after Cole had so much more success throwing at Kyle Higashioka than at Sanchez.
The arrival of Robinson Chirinos, who is at camp for a minor league deal, may be complicating matters. He caught 16 of Cole’s departures to Houston in 2019 and Cole mentioned his relationship with Chirinos last week.
“In 2019, we were able to be on the same page,” Chirinos said. “Gerrit is a tough guy to catch. He likes to talk. It was a challenge.
In those 16 starts two years ago, Cole had a 2.46 ERA. He also worked with Martin Maldonado and in those 10 outings he had a 1.57 ERA.
Cole, in his first season with the Yankees, struggled with Sanchez at times in the game. In eight starts, Cole had a 3.91 ERA, which led to a change at the end of the year, as Higashioka took over as Cole’s personal receiver. In those seven starts – including the playoffs – Cole finished with a 1.79 ERA.
And while the Yankees appear ready with Sanchez and Higashioka, Chirinos has said he’s not thinking about starting the season in minors.
“That’s not where I’m thinking right now,” Chirinos said. “I know these guys are really good and have been here for a long time. I came this spring to show that I’m healthy, leave [the Yankees] choose and make a decision. “
Chirinos also encourages Sanchez to bounce back.
“He works hard,” Chirinos said. “It’s the only thing you ask for as a teammate. Hopefully he turns around and leaves the bad years of the past. That’s a huge key for this team.
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