TAMPA — If you want to dream, Yankee fans, feel free to do so.
For if you are not going to dream on Feb. 20 on a sunny day at Steinbrenner Field when snow has returned to the forecast back home, when would you?
So it is fine to make what happened beginning just after 11 a.m. feel more like a preview than a step for Gerrit Cole. Because for the first time since March 11, Cole faced hitters, throwing 20 pitches to Trent Grisham, Jasson Domínguez and Aaron Judge. All fastballs, mostly tucked encouragingly between 94-97 mph.
But it was more than that. Those collected to watch agreed that he dotted his spots. And that the ball came out of his hand effortlessly with life and zip. And that his pace and face were good. And — here is the big one — that he looked like what he would like on a Feb. 20 had Dr. Neal ElAttrache never opened his right elbow for repair.