CHICAGO — A simple unsaid rule in baseball clubhouses: Don’t talk to that day’s starting pitcher. Starters usually keep to themselves on those days, touching base with coaches and their catcher, but otherwise preparing for the task. Jameson Taillon is a different sort, though.
According to his close friend and former teammate Gerrit Cole , Taillon is locked in and ready to go before a start, but he won’t bite your head off if he’s addressed. Advertisement “He’s the same guy before and after the game,” Cole said. “If you wanted him to make you a pour-over coffee on the day that he’s pitching, he would be like, ‘You know what? I’ll try to find some time to make you coffee.
’ He’s just such a lovely human being.” On a beautiful, sunny Sunday at Wrigley Field, the two faced off on the mound for the first time. Taillon outdueled Cole in a well-pitched, 2-1 Chicago Cubs victory over the New York Yankees .
The Cubs starter allowed just the lone run in six innings while striking out six and walking one, spreading out six hits. Cole allowed two runs, but neither was earned as he struck out seven Cubs and walked one, allowing just three hits in six innings. It’s a common occurrence to hear Taillon bring up the Yankees’ ace in fawning terms.
It’s clear listening to Taillon talk that Cole has had a great impact on his career, setting an example of how to go about life as a starting pitcher in the big leagues. Taillon was drafted second overall by the Pi.