Yankees: Gerrit Cole’s ‘ancient warriors’ comments are off the wall

New York Yankees ace Gerrit Cole lives slightly off-center, and we love and respect that about him.

But … you have to admit … his recent motivational comments, as the Yankees near a season-defining nine-game stretch, would not feel out of place exiting the mouth of Napoleon Dynamite.

Cole has been pitted against Nathan Eovaldi in a Friday night showcase at Fenway, the type of tone-setter that could change his entire New York narrative to day. That sounds extreme, but I … don’t think I’m exaggerating?

It certainly seems like the great Cole is pitching through a balky hamstring, but he didn’t do a great job of gutting through it Sunday against Cleveland, leading to boo birds and f-bombs.

Now, he has an immediate shot at redemption.

And, on Friday night, he’s going into that start … oh, come on, channeling ancient warriors?!

Yankees ace Gerrit Cole is obsessed with ancient warriors.

Again, no offense, Gerrit, but the Red Sox speeches are going to be, like, “We bleed for this city. We will defy ANYONE who dares to challenge us!” That’s the type of intensity you have to match.

“As the aging horseman in Cervantes’ Don Quixote once said …” is not going to cut it.

Also, we love that Cole has “a friend” who brought this up to him. Scale of 1-to-10, do you believe him, or did he just invent a friend in the same way your buddy from camp invents a long-distance model girlfriend?

Though the way he packaged the advice was a little funky, the message rings true. It really has been trial by fire for the Yankees all year long, and they’ve been sharpening their knives against stiff competition while unfortunately falling short more often than they likely should’ve. Compare their path to what the White Sox, who nearly have the same record, have faced in 2021, and it’s no contest.

Chicago will get hit in the mouth when October begins, and we’ll all be left wondering whether they’ll hit back. The Yankees? They’ve been clocked time and again, and more often than not have restarted the roller coaster.

I prefer to think of this season as a coaster. Cole is using ancient battles of yore to get him psyched up for the Fenway Faithful.

Whatever works, man. We need him. Hopefully, on Friday night in Boston, he votes against Pedro.

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