GERRIT COLE TAKES BIG STEP WITH INJURY REHAB

It's the first step to getting back on the mound again. Gerrit Cole will start playing catch this week, it's good news. We can always use all the good news we can get and even though there is still a long way to go, it's the right direction to getting our ace back.

So far, it looks like Cole is on schedule. His initial diagnosis called for a three-to-four-week shutdown. Yesterday marked three weeks and one day since he stood in front of his locker and told all nervous Yankee fans what was going to happen next. I know it's only been three weeks, but for me it has felt a lot longer.

Cole has given himself a goal to return on June 1st, which is only four days after his 60-day IL status expires. The Yankees don't want to push him to come back before he is ready and I also don't want to do that but the sooner we can get him back, the better.... but only if he is 100% ready to go. I just hope he will listen to his body and know how to gage that when the time comes.

It's not normal to see Cole spend time on the Injured List, and we all know his level of dedication. The Yankees are going to need him once we hit the dog days of summer, but we can't afford any risky short cuts here. The Yankees have performed better than I have expected so far. I think that can be said for a lot of us, not just me. I love the 8-2 record so far but one thing that has stuck out to me though, is the lack of durability with the starters.

I keep telling myself it is early in the season. Starters are still finding their rhythm and getting stretched out. This is normal, but the Yankees have succeeded so far due to clutch hitting and good pitching, but we all know slumps happen over a long season. So far the Yankees have only managed to get five innings out of their starters in six of their first ten games and Marcus Stroman was the only pitcher to pitch six innings in both of his starts for the season. That is something to watch.

If the Yankees are unable to get length out of their starters and consistent offense that could really put more pressure on the bullpen. We've seen it happen before, and I don't have a lot of trust with Aaron Boone's management of the bullpen. Actually, I don't really trust him with anything related to the game, not just the bullpen. One of Cole's strengths is he can go deep into ball games, which will save the bullpen. Yesterday's game was too close for comfort, that was a game we should've been able to give Clay Holmes a night off and it didn't work that way. We have too many of those, our bullpen is going to be gassed.

This is a baby step in Cole's rehab.... but a good one. If this team can continue their winning ways while Cole recovers, they will be in a great position when Cole returns as long as Baboonie doesn't screw up the team first.

--Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa

BYB Senior Managing Editor

Twitter: @nyprincessj