#Gerrit Cole ‘stoked’ for Opening Day: ‘Having trouble sleeping’

WASHINGTON — Forget the pinstriped armored truck needed to house the money. Ignore the adulation that flows into a big leaguer’s life.

How many human beings get to do what they have dreamed of since they were kids?

Weather permitting, Gerrit Cole gets to do that when the Yankees face the defending World Series champion Nationals on Thursday in an Opening Day matchup that will reintroduce the world to baseball nearly four months late. An added bonus is Max Scherzer opposes Cole.

When MLB shut down spring training on March 12 due to the coronavirus, nobody had July 23 as Opening Day. Then a battle between MLB and the union threatened to keep the game dark all summer long.

Finally, a 60-game season was cobbled together, and it starts with two of the best pitchers in the game helping to usher baseball back into the daily rhythm without anyone in the seats.

An empty stadium might affect some players’ motivation, but not Cole’s.

“I am stoked, I am already having trouble sleeping,’’ Cole said Wednesday via Zoom while a wicked thunderstorm kept the Yankees from working out at Nationals Park.

Cole grew up in Southern California a Yankees fan, went to UCLA instead of signing with his favorite team when selected in the first round of the 2008 draft and pitched for the Pirates and Astros before inking a nine-year, $324 million deal with the Yankees in January. Little did Cole know he wouldn’t debut until July 23.

After admitting the adrenaline will be high for personal reasons, Cole considered it an honor to be part of ushering baseball back.

“What a wonderful opportunity to kind of lead the game into existence here in 2020,’’ Cole said. “We are thrilled and humbled to have that honor.’’

With thunderstorms forecast for Thursday, Cole’s Yankee debut might have wait until Friday. Either way, the Yankees will be the favorite, even though Scherzer is every bit as good as Cole.

So baseball returns with a matchup akin to Ali-Frazier.

“The first thing you think about is obviously the mound presence, the mound demeanor and a lot of the characteristics that go with that, the durability, the pitch ability and what we all like to call stuff,’’ Cole said of Scherzer. “I think he is the ultimate competitor, I think he has been a great ambassador to the game. He is a true professional in the sense that he toes up the slab every time he gets the opportunity. He gives you what he has got that day for as deep and as long as he can give it to you.’’

Aaron Boone envisioned Cole possibly reaching 100 pitches after the right-hander got to 85 during intrasquad games in spring training 2.0.

“I think Aaron is probably spot on. I wouldn’t assume Aaron would run me out for a full 100 if I wasn’t good or if it was a blowout or something like that,’’ Cole said. “I would say there are other variables that could factor into the pitch count, but I would say that is a fair number, certainly.’’

After a train ride from New York, Boone had to adjust to pitchers and hitters working indoors and had meetings scheduled. Before those tasks he also had let Cole-Scherzer slip into his head.

“I have an appreciation for it already. I saw headshots next to each other and highlighting that matchup and knowing that they are kicking off our season, a unique season, one that we know there will be so many eyes on it,’’ Boone said. “I know that it will be emotional for fans of each team, but I think it will be emotional for sport fans to see that kind of marquee matchup. Hopefully we can go out and put on a good show.’’

For GM Brian Cashman, having Scherzer opposing the Yankees is a serious challenge to overcome.

“It will be a great matchup, a prize fight so to speak see those guys go toe-to-toe,’’ Cashman said.

Since March 12 there have been so many ups and downs for baseball to overcome and COVID-19 may very well force another shutdown. Yet, Thursday night Cole and Scherzer walk the game down the aisle, which is only fitting.