Sabathia: “I’m letting everybody down”
Posted by: Chad Jennings - Posted in Misc on Sep 10, 2012 
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Two and a half weeks ago, the Yankees got their ace back. CC Sabathia returned from left elbow inflammation and delivered what’s supposed to be a typical Sabathia start: 7.1 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K. Maybe it’s too much to expect that every time out, but it’s certainly the kind of pitching like Sabathia’s capable of posting with some regularity.
In three starts since, Sabathia’s blown four leads, allowed five home runs and raised some eyebrows with a diminished fastball. He has a 4.43 ERA in those starts, which isn’t bad if this is his low point, but the Yankees have to believe Sabathia’s capable of more. Especially given this tight division race with three weeks to play.
“He’s been out a month out of the last two and a half months,” Joe Girardi said. “It could be just part of that coming back. It’s been inconsistent this year. At times you wonder if it’s the workload he’s had the last four or five years.”
Because of the two DL stints, this will be the first year since 2006 that Sabathia throws fewer than 230 innings in the regular season. In the past five years, he’s added an additional 80 innings in the playoffs. Despite this season’s elbow injury — and despite understandable speculation — Sabathia insists he’s healthy, and the Yankees say the same, but he seems worn down in one way or the other.
“(If he were hurt) I think it would manifest itself in less velocity than what he’s throwing,” Girardi said. “You wouldn’t see the 94s and 95s that you see. I ask every day. We put him through the tests that we put him through when his elbow was hurt. He doesn’t have that pain.”
Maybe it really is nothing more than perception and a small bump in the road. Certainly the Yankees have to hope that’s the case. According to FanGraphs, Sabathia’s average fastball velocity was 93.9 mph last season, and it’s down to 92.4 this season. His velocity was up early last week in Tampa, then it was down Saturday night in Baltimore. His velocity spikes have not been nearly as high this season as in the past.
“Just all location,” Sabathia said. “I’ve pitched with velo down before. It’s just a matter of me not making pitches. … I feel like I’m letting everybody down, not going out and making pitches I need to make and getting outs and pitching with a lead. We had a 2-0 lead (on Saturday) and I come right back and give it up. That’s not me. Hopefully I can correct this thing and go out and pitch well next time.”
Associated Press photo
blake September 10th, 2012 at 7:34 pm
“If they could add Upton it would be a big help to the team going forward. i know some ppl aren’t sold on him but if the Yanks can tap into his potential it would help a lot.”
J Upton solves a lot of problems short and long term IF he matures and starts to tap that world class potential…..and Im all for full blast after him as Ive said manytimes.
However…..in some ways Headley makes more sensegiven that the Yanks do have some potential outfield help on the way.
Headley is 3 years older but hes a lesser commitment in dollars and he also plays a more premium position and hes right in his prime…….
Switch hitter….plus defender…..and excellent career splits away feom Petco…..also the Yanks probably matchup better with the Padres than the Dbacks.
Dont know what hed cost…..and the upside isnt as high as with Upton….but might be a safer play and more address a longterm need……Alex could go ahead and DH 2/3 or so of the games then
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Very well said Blake. I guess the major hold up is the price it would cost. Seems like at the trade deadline the Padres had an insane price for Headley. But like most trades sometimes it takes less than we think.
The braves would be crazy to let McCann go. He’s an all star catcher. Those don’t grow on trees. And for a team that hopes to contend, he would be near priceless.
Carlos Lee since his trade to Miami: .258/.348/.343. He’s basically washed up. The power is gone, he was never worth trading for. Besides, he can only DH or play 1st, at least you can try Jones in the OF.
If anyone wants to see the Quintana kid pitch he’s on the MLB network right now.
Well at least CC realizes that he’s letting everyone down. Too bad he doesn’t seem to be able to do anything about it.
Carlos Lee also has a reverse split, he would not replace Jones. He is hitting .300 vs righties and .200 vs lefties.
Joe from Long Island says:
September 10, 2012 at 7:52 pm
The braves would be crazy to let McCann go. He’s an all star catcher. Those don’t grow on trees. And for a team that hopes to contend, he would be near priceless.
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Russell Martin is a 3x all star and he made it last year.
It seems that in years past, CC has really started to heat up come August. This season, however, he spent some time on the DL. I’m sure that has thrown off his usual groove. Just when he usually starts locking everything down, he ended up hurt and not pitching.
Yes, it’s a concern. But just like Jeter bounced back from a couple of down years, I have every confidence that CC can do so as well.
Come on CC!