About Spring Training: Forgotten, But Not Gone

About Spring Training: Forgotten, But Not Gone

By Tim Kabel

March 4, 2024

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As a country, America strongly adheres to the mindset of “what have you done for me lately?" We move on from movie stars, politicians, and other public figures very quickly. If someone fails to deliver for any reason, they are pushed aside for someone else. This is particularly true in sports. Not only is this a rather callous approach, but it also often results in people being discarded prematurely and unnecessarily. Perhaps that is why Americans also love comeback stories so much. We are quick to toss someone aside but equally quick to welcome them back. It is a rather odd approach, but it is not new. We can see it now, looking at Nestor Cortes. 

In 2022, Nestor really came into his own. He was an All-Star and he finished the year 12-4 with a 2.44 era. It was a tremendous year, and in many ways, he was one of the Yankees’ best pitchers. Last year was an injury-plagued year for Nestor, and he went 5-2 with a 4.97 ERA.

Cortes has seemingly recovered from his injuries and is pitching well in Spring Training. 

However, he is something of an afterthought when there are discussions about the Yankees’ starting rotation. I read many articles and comments saying that if the Yankees did sign Blake Snell, they would need to get rid of Nestor because they would then have too many left-handed pitchers. He was portrayed as being completely expendable. I still get the sense that there is a lot of skepticism in the way people view Nestor for this season. 

Cortes' lack of success last year was entirely due to injury and an inability to play. When he has been healthy, he has pitched very well for the Yankees, dating to 2021. Some people view him as something of a novelty or a source of amusement due to his less than chiseled physique and his quirky and unusual deliveries when he pitches. That is part of what he does, but it's also what makes him successful. He is a good pitcher. He has been compared to Luis Tiant in some articles. Tiant was an excellent pitcher who was actually a borderline Hall of Famer. I'm not suggesting that Nestor will have that type of career when all is said and done, but you never know. 

I think Carlos Rodon has much more to prove than Nestor Cortes. While it is true that Rodon also had some injuries last year, he had other issues as well. His last performance of the season was an epic disaster against the Royals in which he completely embarrassed himself and his pitching coach. So far, he has been doing well. That will need to continue. All Nestor really has to do is completely recover from his injury, which he has reportedly done. If he takes the mound with his usual approach and level of dedication, I predict he will have a successful season. 

Nestor Cortes deserves to be more than just an afterthought. The Yankees and their fans need to show him respect and realize that if he is healthy, he is a pitcher who can generally be relied upon to put forth a solid effort on a consistent basis. 

Let's put it this way, if Nestor Cortes does not have a successful season and is not effective in any way and loses his spot in the rotation, it will be a hard year for the Yankees as well. If the team wants to be successful this year, his individual success will be a great part of that. If the Yankees do make it to the playoffs and advance to the World Series, Nestor will need to be a key contributor. Although his season last year was fairly forgettable, he is not. It is essential for the Yankees’ success that he bounces back, and if he does, the fans will embrace him for it.