Gerrit Cole on Yankees being swept in 2022 ALCS: "Anytime you get waxed, it doesn't feel good, whether you’re at the salon or on the baseball field"

New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole reported to Tampa for Spring Training on Thursday. He, like the rest of the team, is looking for a more successful season than the one they had in 2022.

They were swept 4-0 by the Houston Astros in the American League Conference Series. It's a feeling nobody in the Bronx wants to feel again.

"Anytime you get waxed, it doesn't feel good, whether you're at the salon or on the baseball field" said Gerrit Cole in response to the Astros' dominance over the Yankees.

While funny, the statement is true. It's not fun getting dominated by another team. It's not fun putting in all the work during the regular season just to get bounced in the playoffs with little resistance. That's not what the Yankees wanted to show the world during the ALCS.

It wasn't just the postseason where the Yankees struggled with the Astros, they didn't fare well against them in the regular season either. They matched up seven times in the regular season, with the Astros winning 5-2.

Surely, the Bronx Bombers will have this on their minds all year long. Nothing is quite as invigorating as getting revenge, and they have the roster to get their revenge.

Gerrit Cole, Carlos Rodon, and the rest of the staff will have to step up this year

San Francisco Giants v Chicago Cubs

The Yankees signed left-handed pitcher Carlos Rodon this winter. The lefty has been on a tear lately, trying to prove himself. He's coming off a career year where he led the league in FIP (2.25) and SO9 (12).

The two sides agreed to a six-year, $162 million deal. The team will need him more than ever now that they'll be without pitcher Frankie Montas for the unforeseeable future.

It was reported Wednesday that Montas will be having shoulder surgery. The surgery will likely cost him the entire season. If you remember, Montas dealt with a shoulder issue shortly after being acquired by the Yankees. This is a huge blow for a team that's looking to get over the hump this year.

The team still has enough pitching depth to be able to manage without Montas, but he was expected to be a big part of this year's rotation. The updated rotation includes: Cole, Rodon, Luis Severino, Nestor Cortes, Domingo German and Clarke Schmidt.

While losing Montas isn't ideal, the Yankees should be able to manage. They should be very competitive behind Gerrit Cole and Carlos Rodon.