Gerrit Cole spit the bit. Who would trust him?

It's harsh. The late Yankee owner George Steinbrenner applied the term to one of his starting pitchers many years ago. But that pitcher was not the very expensive ace of the staff as Gerrit Cole is today. The Yankees are paying Cole $36 million every season 2020-2028: age 29 through 37.

"He spit the bit." Would George Steinbrenner say that about son Hal? Wednesday, August 3, 2016

"you've been cracking under the pressure. Can't cope, can't stand the heat. Spit the bit." - George Steinbrenner, speaking to George Costanza on "Seinfeld". ...

Jim Beattie was "scared stiff"; "he spit the bit." ...

"He spit the bit," Steinbrenner barked, using horse racing language. "He's a morning glory." ...

Hal Steinbrenner runs the Yankees now. His father George died July 13, 2010 and left the team to his four adult children, the Steinbrenner Kids...

Hal Steinbrenner allowed general manage Brian Cashman to make a series of bad decisions in recent years ...

The bitter truth for Yankee fans is that Yankee owner Hal Steinbrenner spit the bit.

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Note: Jim Beattie pitched for the Yankees 1978-1979. The Yankees did not reach the post season in 1979 but won the World Series in 1978. Beattie started one game in the ALCS and one game in the WS and won both. He pitched a complete game victory against the Dodgers in game 5 at Yankee Stadium 12-2. Maybe George Steinbrenner's tough love worked.

In 2022 Cole led the American League in starts (33), strike outs (257 in 200 innings) and home runs allowed (33).

This season Cole seemed to have finally grown into his role. He's been the best pitcher in the American League, a Cy Young award candidate. Before yesterday's game Cole had not allowed a home run this season, ERA+ 325.

Cole's last place Yankees had split the first two games of this first 2023 series against first place Tampa. The Yankees seemed a cinch to win game three with Cole pitching against a bunch of relievers as Tampa was almost conceding the game. Tampa even let one inept relief pitcher, Josh Fleming, "take one for the team" as the Yankees built a 6-0 lead against Fleming through the top of the 5th.

But Cole gave up his first home runs of the season to the 8 and 9 hitters: Bethancourt and Siri. Bethancourt's three run blast in the 6th tied the game at 6-6. Cole allowed 2 runs in the 5th and 4 runs in the 6th without retiring a batter in the 6th. Jimmy Cordero relieved Cole and let the go ahead run score from second base on a ground ball back to the pitcher. No joke. Yanks lost in 10: 8-7.

It was a particularly brutal defeat compounded by the slow realization that Yankee fans cannot trust Gerrit Cole, especially in anything approaching a big situation.

Gerrit Cole spit the bit.