Part 2/6:
Boone emphasized the heavy "mileage" on Cole's arm, alluding to the workload he had accumulated over recent seasons. Cole had been a workhorse for the Yankees, having pitched almost 200 innings last year alone, despite missing the first 75 games of the season. The discussion surrounding pitchers and the risk of injuries, particularly Tommy John surgery, is long-standing, as Boone illustrated the challenges in maintaining a healthy pitching staff.