As Luis Gil dominates, the Yankees wonder: How high, how far, how long?

 If John Sterling were still calling history - (saddest aspect of 2024: The Master might be missing a genuine Yankee resurgence) - he would have rejoiced over the phenomenon of Luis Gil, referred to as "Luis the Magnificent" in a postgame YES graphic yesterday. 

John never conceived a pitching equivalent to his Homer Howls, but he sure could swoon over "another great job by Joba!" or "Mariano the Great!" or any Yank - from Betances to Shreve - who might coax a DP grounder with the bases full. 

Gil - currently 3rd in the AL in ERA - would have given John cause to celebrate an infrequent solar event: 

A breakout Yankee pitcher, up from the farms, shocking the world. 

In fact, our rotation now boasts three: Gil, Clarke Schmidt and Nestor Cortes - each developed through a lengthy seasoning process that included pizza steaks in Wilkes Barre. Each could end up pitching in the 2024 All-Star game. And, considering the reality of the modern game, each could be gone by then.

At any time, a pitcher can feel a tweak and disappear. Chad Green felt one. Frankie Montas felt one. Scott Effross felt one. On the modern staff, there is only one certainty: There is no such thing as certainty.  

Which begs the question:  

How far can Gil go? 

Short answer: Dunno. Nobody does. My guess is that the Yankees will do what they always do: Ride this horse while it can run. 

You can't blame them. On June 3, Gil will turn 26. This is his prime, and it's been a long time coming. In 2018, the Yankees traded Jake Cave to get him, and until now, it looked as though Minnesota got the better of the deal. But Gil always looked, well,  interesting. In 2021, he became the first pitcher in MLB history to record scoreless starts in his first three outings. (Overall, 15.2 innings.) Two years ago - May 2022 - he tweaked his elbow and went bye-bye. Tommy John. Last week, he broke Orlando Hernandez' record of 14 strikeouts in one game, the highest for a Yankee rookie. Ironically, El Duque threw out the ceremonial first pitch in that game. The juju gods have a thing for this guy.

So, what do we have, and can we keep it? 

Of course, everything revolves around Gerrit Cole, who might return in June. That would be a huge boost for a pitching staff that - at least in the bullpen - seems to be fraying. (Will Clay Holmes ever pitch another 1-2-3 inning?) It's pointless to ponder a six-man rotation. Surely, by mid-June, one of the Yankee starters will be struggling or hurt. 

I'm not sure he qualifies as "Luis the Magnificent," but right now, with or without Cole, Gil is the pitcher I'd want starting Game One. And the Yankees better not abuse him.