There appears to be a feud brewing between the New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays, but perhaps it may be a little one-sided. Five months after Alek Manoah referred to Gerrit Cole as “the worst cheater in MLB history,” the Blue Jays starting pitcher is doubling down on his criticism, according to the NY Post.
As the Blue Jays are playing a three-game set in New York, Manoah’s beef with Cole seems to be just as fresh as it was in November, bleeding into Saturday afternoon’s game with the two facing off against one another.
Before Cole could even throw his first pitch, Manoah was trying to mess with his rhythm.
Cole was ready to throw a pitch to George Springer to lead off Saturday’s game but was forced to wait, as Manoah, catcher Alejandro Kirk and the remainder of Toronto’s starting rotation took their time arriving from the bullpen to the dugout. Cole had to step off the rubber for a moment and crouched behind the mound, as Manoah made his entrance quite known.
Hang on, Alek Manoah is making an ✨entrance✨ pic.twitter.com/rjsPBAaxxT
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) April 22, 2023
The MLB world not only reacted to Manoah doubling down on his comments, but also his grand entrance, on social media:
“The Blue Jays try so hard to make the Yankees care about them and be “rivals” and it never works,” said Mike Nash. “Let them finish in 3rd place again in peace”
Some fans were not pleased with Manoah’s antics on Saturday, while others ate it up:
https://t.co/V5EgDxFoDx pic.twitter.com/ozNXDnnP2E
— Dustin Miller (@TheMillerEffect) April 22, 2023
I guarantee you this was intentional.
No respect.
This is going to be interesting.
Go get em GC45 !!!! #RepBX #Yankees https://t.co/2cQ2ourWCE— 🇨🇦 The Hammer🎙️ (@TheHammer75) April 22, 2023
"Act like you've been there" is bs but the Jays are riotously chesty for a team that was up 8-1 in the fifth of a playoff game and lost https://t.co/6PMQ4QBubL
— Pinstripe Alley (@pinstripealley) April 22, 2023
I’m so here for the drama. Every good story needs a villain and Jays are playing the role perfectly https://t.co/tgfOguYHbm
— Fungo Baseball (@FungoMedia) April 22, 2023
Alek Manoah, who’s got a 6.98 era this season, should perhaps focus on his pitching. https://t.co/WOqzKqEcV1
— Suzanne Zuppello (@suzuppello) April 22, 2023
I’m cool with growing another rivalry but it’s been kinda sad watching the Blue Jays basically beg the Yankees to notice them https://t.co/06evGhPn76
— Luke Owens (@LukeTheKid3) April 22, 2023
https://twitter.com/MattWi77iams/status/1649825211468902400?s=20
About Sam Neumann
Since the beginning of 2023, Sam has been a staff writer for Awful Announcing and The Comeback. A 2021 graduate of Temple University, Sam is a Charlotte native, who currently calls Greenville, South Carolina his home. He also has a love/hate relationship with the New York Mets and Jets.