Time For Yankees Fans To Panic With Gerrit Cole? The Numbers Say No.

When the Yankees gave the game's top free agent Gerrit Cole 9 years, $324 million, they expected dominance. The fans did, too. His first eight starts have been average at best rocking a 3.91 ERA, but according to stats: He's exactly where he always is this time of year.

Patience isn't exactly a New Yorker's game and a 60-game season doesn't call for patience, either. When YES Network's Michael Kay mentioned this season being a sprint, he meant it. But Gerrit Cole's numbers in what should have been a Cy Young season last year should give Yankees fans a breath of fresh air.

The bombers can expect healthy bodies at some point and given the 16-team postseason format, the Yanks will make it. If Gerrit Cole replicates last year's schedule, Aaron Boone and the Yankees should have the game's best pitcher starting game one's with a sure handed postseason Masahiro Tanaka slotted right behind him.

A one-two punch no one can mess with in October.

12 homers allowed has to be the only alarming stat of Cole's considering that's more than any other pitcher in the game. What gives? Easy to fall into worry when pitching coach Larry Rothschild had Sonny Gray pitching so bad he laughed off the Yankee Stadium mound. Luckily for New York Rothschild was shipped out of town for Matt Blake and Gerrit Cole seems to love the guy.

When the Yankees get most of their bats back off the IL, everything will fall into place. Too easy to fall into hysteria when the staff can't afford to give up a run or two. All will be right in the Bronx. Soon.