White Sox prospect Caleb Bonemer, Chicago host add fuel to Gerrit Cole controversy with cheeky answers

We've said it before. We'll say it again. We'll write it in this article right here, because it's back in the news. If you genuinely think a rehabbing Gerrit Cole reared back and drilled White Sox top prospect Caleb Bonemer (in the elbow, not the back) for the high crime and misdemeanor of homering and singling off him in a rehab game, you're guilty of hating the Yankees too much, and you have a very odd view of Cole.

Whenever I brought this particularly prickly point up mid-season, countless internet trolls swarmed me to let me know that Cole has "a history" of similar incidents. When I asked them to name those incidents, they could not. Cole has a reputation for being particular, sure, and occasionally unraveling when the defense doesn't treat him the way he'd like to be treated. Cole has not always been a model of even-keeled temperament. But he's also someone who respects the craft, the game, and its history. Cole drilling a top prospect on the elbow - not for showboating, just for succeeding - would be ... a departure from his normal behavior.

People who despise Cole and the Yankees will obviously think otherwise.

Which brings us to White Sox personality Chuck Garfien's interview with Bonemer this week, where the host egged him on as Bonemer first demurred, then winked his way through some insinuations that, yeah, he also believes Cole might've been sending a message.

Caleb Bonemer opens up about Yankees' Gerrit Cole hitting him with a fastball during rehab assignment

"Right off the elbow. 98, right off the elbow. (pause) Yeah, I don't know ... I'm not one to say why, but that's what happened," Bonemer told Garfien, staying neutral, when asked about the moments that followed his offensive exploits.

But then ... well ...

"You don't need to say what happened. I'll tell everyone what happened," Garfien exclaimed, as Bonemer laughed. "That was a purpose -- like, 'Hey, minor-leaguer, I'm Gerrit Freaking Cole, you just homered off of me. Now you got a single off of me. Now take that.' That's a badge of honor."

"Everybody was telling me I should show some emotion, say something back, but ... what else can I say? I did my job. That's that," Bonemer added.

So, in conclusion, after months of waiting ... Bonemer stopped short of saying he believed Cole drilled him and tried to spark something man-to-man, but he admitted he let his play do the talking and didn't feel the need to escalate. Clearly, his teammates agreed that Cole was trying to start something. Garfien - and every White Sox fan with a platform - are firmly in the "I'm Gerrit Freaking Cole!" camp, a statement that redefines cringe with every added syllable.

If you think Cole was so frustrated by a few tough at-bats in a rehab outing as he tirelessly worked his way back from Tommy John surgery and towards the one thing he loves most that he unleashed a heater to teach a talented kid a lesson, one he didn't learn, then by all means enjoy your hatred-fueled fantasy. The more realistic outcome is that a heater got away from Cole, but Chicago continues to stand on business, well into their offseason.

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