When the Yankees inked Carlos Rodon to a six-year, $162 million contract in December, they knew they were getting a fierce rival.

That was true in good times and bad, although in Rodon’s difficult first season with the squad, the latter was more often.

Rodon’s hot temper has erupted during two starts already this year, both of which ended poorly.

The first time came in July at Angel Stadium, when he was trailing 4-0 in the second inning and he walked off the mound and blew a kiss to a jeering fan.

Six batters into his final start of the season on Friday, Rodon turned his back on pitching coach Matt Blake during a mound visit.

Rodon’s season ended as he gave up eight runs without getting an out against the next two batters.

Rodon called Blake into his office on a Saturday to explain himself and try to work out their differences.

The situation at Kauffman Stadium on Saturday was “obviously not ideal,” Blake acknowledged. I was upset with the way things were being handled at the time, but I also know that the fact that his emotions run so high in situations like that is part of what makes him so amazing. That something like that can happen to him can also be his downfall.

It’s not what you want or the way you’d have it handled, but you can see where it comes from—his own irritation with the situation and with you. You do your best to put things in perspective.

According to Blake, Rodon was “remorseful” and “apologetic” in their Saturday meeting.

As the pitching coach put it, he wanted to make sure the act “wasn’t out of personal disrespect, and it wasn’t at all.” ‘Rodon claimed he had not yet spoken to Blake after Friday’s game because he needed to “cool down.”

After talking to the press, Rodon had a lengthy conversation with manager Aaron Boone in his office.

It’s a different storyline when a player who’s having a tremendous year displays such emotion, as Boone put it. We needed to make sure everything was dealt with correctly because what happened is unacceptable. But we think things are good right now, and Carlos has no bad intentions.

Instead of playing Game 161 on Saturday night, the Yankees would be playing a different game at a different point in the season, and Boone acknowledged he “possibly” would have contemplated disciplinary action against Rodon.

Boone speculated that “part of him doesn’t really know in the moment what he’s doing.” He’s simply so focused, intense, and on the brink. But you still have to keep your wits about you while you’re in full-on competitive mode.

If things were going well, the fans may appreciate Rodon’s impassioned temperament on the pitch.

Instead, Rodon’s debut year in pinstripes concluded with him going 3-8 with a 6.85 ERA across 64 1/3 innings and 14 starts while battling forearm, back, and hamstring problems.

Even though Rodon’s velocity was down for the second consecutive start on Friday, both Boone and Blake stated they believed the lefty was physically fine, and he even offered to pitch again on Saturday or Sunday despite throwing only 35 pitches.

“It’s part of what makes him really good sometimes and it can undo him in certain situations,” Blake remarked. There is a thin line that elite athletes must walk in order to succeed at the highest levels of competition. It’s something we, as a unit, and he in particular, are always trying to improve. We hope that he does well and acts responsibly in the world.

Obviously, this is a moment we’d come to regret later on.