New York Yankees relying on C.C. Sabathia – MLB News
Without a shadow of a doubt, C.C. Sabathia is one of the most dynamic and talented pitchers in Major League Baseball right now. Showing his class, temperament and determination, New York Yankees’ ace helped his team make it to the playoffs last season.
The big guy has achieved 59-23 with an impressive 3.18 ERA since joining the Yankees three years ago. With 61 victories, only Tigers’ ace Justin Verlander has managed to get more wins than Sabathia over the same period of time.
Although the Yankees failed to execute their game plan in the 2011 post season, Sabathia continued to impress his skipper. When the starter stepped onto the mound in Yankees’ opening game against the Tampa Bay Rays, he became only the ninth pitcher to make
four straight Opening Day starts for the Yankees.
Considering the level Sabathia raised his game in the last couple of years, there will be immense expectations from him this season. There is no denying the fact Sabathia has the ability to fulfil those expectations but can he do one more time for the Bombers?
“He’s been fantastic,” Cashman said in an interview with a leading sports website. “He’s been great.”
“I still get butterflies before pretty much every game, but especially Opening Day,” Sabathia said. “It’s a brand new season and you want to start the season off right. It’s an honor to be able to go out there and take the ball.”
With his contract valid until the end of 2016, Sabathia can easily break record of seven consecutive Opening Day starts for the Yankees. General Manager Brian Cashman will be very pleased to see his dreams coming true. When Cashman signed the left hander
on a $161 million seven year deal in 2008, he would have expected him to become a match winner for the team.
The Yankees had high hopes from the likes of Randy Johnson, Kevin Brown and Carl Pavano in the past decade but none of them proved to be as successful as Sabathia in their pitching rotation. It will be interesting to see if the ace can lead the Yankees to
World Series glory this season.
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