Video summary
Gerrit Cole recently addressed his team's struggles with home runs over the last two games, attributing the issue primarily to hitters making solid contact regardless of pitch type or location. He acknowledged that while he feels physically healthy and satisfied with his stamina following surgery, the current challenge lies in improving run prevention rather than just maintaining health. Cole emphasized that adjustments are a necessary part of the long season, especially against high-quality offenses that can teach pitchers valuable lessons through their performance in big-stakes games.
The pitcher discussed the difficulty of coming back from surgery and noted that comparing his current swing-and-miss rates to previous years without the American Baseball Scale (ABS) is complicated. He admitted that while he generally believes hitters must also execute good swings, there are elements where his stuff isn't performing as expected, requiring him to navigate these changes game by game. Cole expressed that he does not have a specific solution yet but remains confident in his ability to figure things out, noting that the team has shown adaptability in the past despite facing tough offerings from opponents.
Looking ahead, Cole highlighted that while the team cannot win every game, they are still striving to catch up in the race for the postseason, which he views as the most rewarding part of the season. He acknowledged the pressure involved but framed it as a challenge that makes the games more exciting rather than overwhelming. Ultimately, his mindset is focused on taking one game at a time and making hard adjustments to get forward, trusting that things can turn around quickly if they continue to push for better performance in every outing.
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Garrett now seven home runs over the
last two games. Why do you think you've
struggled to keep the ball in the
ballpark here over the last two?
>> Um
I think a I mean just straightforward
observation is that the hitters are
seeing the ball well and being able to
deliver good strikes to it regardless of
the pitch type or really the location.
>> You feel like you need to change your
approach? Is it is it their approach
that's that's allowing them to do it or
is it something you can change on your
end? Um, I I think it's something that
we we got to we got to figure out for
sure. Um, and uh, it's just one of those
times in the season. I think you got to
start making adjustments. Some sometimes
adjustments are hard. Um, but you know,
that's the demand of the game, right?
So, you got to find a way to get through
it and get forward.
>> Yeah. Maybe this is a similar answer,
but your swinging miss has been harder
for you to come by. Just why do you
think that is?
>> Yeah, that's something that we need to
tackle.
any part of this do you think uh part of
the progression of coming back from the
surgery?
>> Yeah, I mean it's a fair it's a fair
question.
Hard for me to pin it on one thing. Um
you know because again like at at a
certain point starting pitchers
throughout the year you know need to
make an adjustment. You know it's a long
season. Hitters are good. offenses are
good and uh you know high stakes games
with good offenses you know they
sometimes they teach you lessons like
today
>> pitchers have to make adjustments a lot
during the season but how concerning is
it that it's two weeks to go in the
regular season and you a year going
through this
>> yeah I mean you know things can turn
around quickly so um you take it one
game at a time I'm not looking at the
next two weeks and uh you know I mean
you never really know how close you are
sometimes It's really, really small
things, but um yeah, you got to get
after it.
>> Adjustments aside, physically, do you
feel like you're good and you were you
are where you should be?
>> Yeah, I mean I mean it's hard not to be
pleased physically with how this season
has gone in retrospected coming off
surgery and not pitching for a while.
So, I'm in a good spot in terms of uh
health and stamina. Uh I just need
better efficacy preventing runs.
>> How concerned are you? You know, you're
a perfectionist and
>> you don't ever want to give up runs, but
>> are you really concerned right now or
you're saying, "I'm healthy. I'll figure
this out." I always do.
>> Yeah, I'm healthy. I'll figure it out.
It's [laughter]
It's like It's not easy, Randy. It's
tough tough game, man. Um, got to make
hard adjustments. Like, it's why it's
the big leagues.
>> Garrett, do you already know what those
adjustments are?
>> Um,
not necessarily.
Because because generally I I think
people would think that over your time
besides having great stuff, you are good
at figuring things out and thinking
along. So So
>> we were able to adapt last week, you
know, um
>> in game.
>> In game. Yeah. You know, to to respond.
Uh and this week we, you know, just it
we just got bled out really and didn't
get deep. And I mean, Yar did a
fantastic job to give us some length
today. Uh, but you know, it's it's it's
all it's all different offerings. It's
different locations, it's different
sequences. Um, it's tough to pin down.
Um, but you know, hitters are really
good, offenses are really good. You
know, not only, you know, do you can you
make a good pitch, but the hitter has to
put a good swing on it. And like, so
there is credit to be dished out, but at
the same time, we expect better, right?
So that's that's what we'll be chasing
going forward is being better.
>> I know you were asked about the swing
and miss swing and miss specifically on
a fast ball. Are you does that concern
you?
>> I don't know exactly the I mean I think
just in general yeah it's uh it's been a
little bit of a challenge. Um I think
it's hard to compare to previous years
without pitching with the ABS. I think
maybe chase and swing and miss across
the board is down. So trying to find,
you know, where those numbers would be
relative to this environment uh is is
something that we need to navigate. Um
but yeah, at the same time, like it's
just like, you know, the stuff isn't
just performing like I think you would
expect it to perform. So there's
something there that we need to figure
out.
>> Understanding you're not in physical
pain postsurgery, [clears throat] do you
think your arm might be hitting a wall?
I feel great.
>> So, no.
>> Given where you guys are in the uh in
the schedule, you know, you're not going
to win every game, but you guys are
still trying to catch the race. How much
pressure is there on a daily basis to
>> Oh, this is the fun part of it. You
know, like cuz uh the reward is close to
the end, getting to the postseason,
being able to chase your chase your
ultimate goal. So these are these are
the games you look forward to the most.
Pressure or not?