Disgruntled Cortes Changes His Tune About Pitching From The Bullpen!

What a difference a few days makes! Nestor Cortes was butthurt after his bullpen appearance over the weekend. Cortes was “upset” because “I felt like I’ve been, amongst all the starters, the workhorse here,” check it out HERE if you missed it. It was quite the temper tantrum. Now suddenly, he’s had a change of heart.

Or, so he says he has, check out his latest statement HERE. Now he’s “happy I’m able to do it” meaning move back and forth between a starting role and a bullpen appearance. Very timely considering he’s back in the starting rotation today. Also timely because we ripped him for his poor attitude in IF THAT’S HOW CORTES PITCHES WHEN HE’S MAD, DEMOTE HIM AGAIN! Not to mention my X page was full of criticism for Cortes. It’s just not a good luck for anyone, but especially bad for someone who has underperformed and not lived up to expectations. He’s not Gerrit Cole, he’s not an ace.

So here we are. Cortes is willing to pitch in the bullpen now after he’s had this sudden desire to be a team player and do anything and everything. “I was a little [ticked] off about it, but that’s in the past. My goal has always been to win, no matter where I’m at. Whatever helps this team win, I’m gonna do. Of course I’d rather start, but if it winds up I’m coming in for two or three innings, so be it,” said Cortes. 

I get worked up when I hear baseball players have “diva” moments. I get even more worked up when they play for the Yankees. Aaron Boone brushed it off like it was no big deal, but that’s not a surprise. These guys make ridiculous amounts of money playing a kids game for a living. I’d bang symbols jumping around wearing a monkey suit for that kind of cash. Anyone lucky enough to play for the Yankees and win a potential championship shouldn’t be too big to do any job. His workhorse comment made me feel like he considered his last assignment was beneath him….and I’m just not down with that.

Cortes hasn’t lived up to expectations in his current role. If he can perform as a reliever and give the Yankees a better chance to win, he should be happy he’s doing his part. At work I call this putting my aces in their places…and I just don’t think Cortes’ “ace” has been a starter for this team. He might be elsewhere, but it hasn’t translated here.

I hope this change of attitude isn’t temporary, because there’s no room for ego here. This is the home stretch, and it only gets harder from here. There’s no “I” in team and it’s time he remembers that. We just don’t have room for the diva moments if we want to win a championship. 

–Jeana Bellezza-Ochoa