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C.C. Sabathia News & Rumors

New Yanks will help win title: Sabathia
January 21
New York Post
 
"Michael Pineda has pitched just one season in the majors and Hiroki Kuroda never has been out of the NL West, but CC Sabathia said he is convinced the pair make the Yankees the favorites in the AL East again. When asked if he thought the additions gave the Yankees what they needed to win a title, the lefty didn't hesitate. "I do," Sabathia said. "We're going to try to win a championship. That's always our goal and it's a realistic goal. We made some great moves. Our team was good [last year], but they made it even better." Derek Jeter agreed. "It's good," the shortstop said. "We always do something and sometimes things come out of the blue." After the Yankees won 97 games and the AL East a"
Sabathia a lifelong Silver & Black fan, parking-lot legend and hometown hero
January 15
New York Post
 
"Like any serious tailgate party, this one started with the toss of a football. Four youngsters raced down the parking lot about 35 yards away. The father of one of the children, wearing an Oakland Raiders jersey with the No. 52 on his back, lofted a perfect, arcing pass into the center of the group. CC Sabathia can throw a football, too. His son, Carsten, 8, known as Little C, can catch, as well, grabbing the ball and making a nifty move like his Raiders hero, running back Darren McFadden. Welcome to another Sunday in Raiders Nation, where the parking lot is overflowing with Silver and Black characters, football's most interesting Tailgate Show. Yes, the big guy over there who came to O.co"
CC Sabathia looks ahead now that his deal is done
November 12
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"CC Sabathia instructed his agent before the season to make sure he ended up back in pinstripes. And months later, on Halloween, as the final touches were being put on his new five-year, $122 deal, Sabathia's wife proposed the way he should break the news. So, Sabathia logged onto Twitter, told Yankees fans he would be part of the pursuit of a 28th world championship, then stood in a closet in his Alpine house to shoot a 20-second video that announced his return to the world. "I thought it was a cool way to let people know that it really was me," Sabathia said at a charity event last night. "It was just random. We knew the deal was going to be done, and I was just sitting up there. We"
Jonathan Papelbon leaves Red Sox for Phillies and Yankees CC Sabathia not sad to see him go
November 12
New York Daily News
 
"Jonathan Papelbon leaving the Red Sox for the Phillies not only sent reverberations through both Boston and Philadelphia on Friday - it hit the Bronx, too. "I just saw that about an hour ago and I'm not going to miss him," Yankee ace CC Sabathia said while at the kickoff party for his "CC Challenge" charity scavenger hunt Saturday. "He's a great pitcher and he was good for them. It just makes the Phillies that much better. "If our ultimate goal is to win the World Series, I'm sure we're going to have to see them (Philadelphia) at the end of the season." Papelbon agreed to a four-year, $50 million deal with the Phils that has a vesting option for an additional $13 million. It is the most"
Charity begins at home for CC
November 12
New York Post
 columnist Kevin Kernan
"CC Sabathia sees the big picture. That's his greatest gift. Sabathia just got back from a trip to Europe and today in Manhattan will kick off the inaugural "CC Challenge'' that is modeled after TV's "The Amazing Race," which happens to be Sabathia's favorite show. "This is something different,'' Sabathia said last night at Canz-a-Citi Roadhouse in Murray Hill. He is a partner in the franchise restaurant company. "Everybody does the bowling and golf events. This should be fun.'' Sabathia will be a Yankee for the rest of his career after recently signing a five-year contract extension for $122 million that could be worth as much as $142 million over six years. Keeping him in Pinstripes was"
Yanks reward CC with $122 million extension
November 1
New York Post
 
"It was getting close. But CC Sabathia and the Yankees were able to get his new deal done last night to avoid the ace opting out of his previous deal. Sabathia tweeted the announcement of his new contract at 7:23 p.m., four hours and 36 minutes before he could have opted out of his contract and become a free agent. The Yankees gave him an extension for $30 million guaranteed, with the increase potentially cresting to $50 million if an option is exercised. Sabathia had four years and $92 million left on his deal through 2015 -- $23 million annually. Now in 2016, he will receive $25 million. And in 2017, he has a vesting club option for $25 million with a $5 million buyout. Thus, Sabathia is"
Sabathia agrees to extension with Yankees
October 31
New York Post
 
"CC Sabathia agreed to a contract extension Monday and will be staying with the Yankees. "Yankee fans, I'll be here fighting for number 28 next year," the pitcher announced on his Twitter account, referring to the team's next World Series championship. The new contract is for five years, $122 million guaranteed, with the potential to become six years worth $142 million. The 31-year-old left-hander had until midnight to decide if he would opt out of the remaining four years and $92 million on his previous contract."
CC Sabathia expected to opt-out of his contract before Monday's midnight deadline
October 31
New York Daily News
 
"A total of 148 players became free agents Sunday. As of 11:59 p.m. Monday, that number will likely rise to 149. CC Sabathia is expected to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract before Monday's midnight deadline, thrusting the former Cy Young winner to the top of the free-agent pitching market. The Yankees are believed to have made a last-ditch effort to sign Sabathia to a new deal over the weekend, but barring a last-minute agreement, the lefthander and his agents will likely exercise the opt-out by Monday night, voiding the final four years and $92 million of his original seven-year, $161 million pact."
Sabathia agreement unlikely by Monday
October 29
New York Post
 
"The Yankees planned to present an initial proposal to CC Sabathia this weekend, but were not overly optimistic they could reach an agreement with their ace before Monday at 11:59 p.m., the deadline for the lefty to void the final four seasons of his contract. Yankees officials met in Tampa earlier this week to finalize a strategy for dealing with Sabathia. An official who has done a lot of business over many years with the Yankees said they generally do not submit an official offer to a player "until they know it is something the other side will accept or is darn near close to that." Thus, the Yankees still could be in a feeling-out period with Sabathia's representatives, Greg Genske and,"
Sources: Yanks eye CC Sabathia deal
October 29
ESPN.com
 
"With both sides highly motivated to get a deal done, New York Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and the agent for ace CC Sabathia will try to complete a new contract this weekend in an effort to prevent the left-hander from becoming a free agent, according to baseball officials with knowledge of the situation. Sabathia, 31, can opt out of the final four years and $92 million of his current deal. If he were to opt out of his current contract, he would be free to negotiate with all of the major league clubs by the end of next week. Both sides have their reasons to want to complete a contract as early as possible. The Yankees know that Sabathia is currently irreplaceable. In his three"
Yankees have offer ready for Sabathia
October 28
New York Post
 
"The Yankees have put together a contract proposal for CC Sabathia the left-handed ace will receive shortly. Will it be good enough for Sabathia to not opt out of the final four years and $92 million remaining on his current contract and become a free agent? Sabathia has until three days after the World Series ends to make an opt-out decision. Though retaining Sabathia to front a shaky rotation is the Yankees' top priority, there are other issues in their universe less complicated. All that is standing between GM Brian Cashman and a new deal is his signature. In addition to Sabathia's opt-out, the Yankees have three days after the World Series to exercise options on Robinson Cano and Nick"
Could Sabathia be lured to Red Sox? Lackey injury creates a need for Boston
October 27
New York Daily News
 
"While they would never admit it, you have to think the Yankees got a shiver when they heard Tuesday that Boston's John Lackey will miss all of 2012 due to Tommy John surgery, news that could make the winter as sticky as a humid summer for the Yankees. After all, increasing the Red Sox's need for pitching does not dovetail well with the Yankees' desire to improve their own rotation, especially in what is a limited free-agent market. The Yankees certainly don't want another deep-pocketed competitor bidding for scarce talent."
CC Sabathia opt-out clause looms over Yankees, who close in on signing Brian Cashman for 3 years
October 27
New York Daily News
 
"The Yankees moved closer to a deal with Brian Cashman to remain as their general manager and also worked on a plan for answering their biggest on-field question of the offseason - CC Sabathia's future - during an organizational meeting Wednesday at the team's complex in Tampa. Cashman's new contract, believed to be for at least three years, is "just about" complete, said a baseball official with knowledge of the pact, and could be announced as soon as the World Series is over, perhaps as early as this week. "It'll get done," the person said."
Nova hopes CC will stay
October 27
New York Post
 
"The Yankees are trying to make sure that CC Sabathia doesn't leave The Bronx and Ivan Nova doesn't believe the big lefty will. "What I feel is that he's not going anywhere," Nova said last night. "I think he loves the Yankees and pitching in New York and he'll stay here." Sabathia can opt out of the rest of his contract after the postseason, but the team hopes to give him a satisfactory offer before it gets to that point. Sabathia has four years and $92 million remaining on his deal and has three days after the World Series ends to become a free agent if that's what he chooses to do."
Could Yankees' CC Sabathia be lured to Red Sox? John Lackey injury creates a need for Boston
October 26
New York Daily News
 
"While they would never admit it, you have to think the Yankees got a shiver when they heard Tuesday that Boston's John Lackey will miss all of 2012 due to Tommy John surgery, news that could make the winter as sticky as a humid summer for the Yankees. After all, increasing the Red Sox's need for pitching does not dovetail well with the Yankees' desire to improve their own rotation, especially in what is a limited free-agent market. The Yankees certainly don't want another deep-pocketed competitor bidding for scarce talent."
Yankees want new CC deal before deadline
October 26
New York Post
 
"By the time two days of meetings in Tampa ends tomorrow, the Yankees will develop a plan they hope will keep CC Sabathia from opting out of a contract following the World Series. General manager Brian Cashman will chair meetings of Yankees brass that will include president Randy Levine, assistant GM Jean Afterman, Billy Eppler, the head of pro scouting, and likely owner Hal Steinbrenner. Cashman's new contract could be finalized in Tampa. "Their hope is to present Sabathia with an offer he is agreeable with before he opts out,'' said a person with knowledge of the Yankees' thinking."
3UP: The CC Sabathia edition
October 20
New York Post
 columnist Joel Sherman
"In yesterday's Post, I wrote this column about how negotiations between CC Sabathia and the Yankees may take shape. I may be in the minority, but I think they will be difficult and I think there is a very good chance Sabathia will leave. And the reason is Derek Jeter. No, Jeter is not actually part of these negotiations. But think about how the Yankees handled talks with a legend last year. They were concerned about his long-term future. The Jeter camp thought because he was Derek Jeter with all that he meant to the franchise, the Yankees would just capitulate and give him a deal in the range of five years at $125 million. The Yankees not only never considered it: They went public with"
CC negotiations could push limits
October 18
New York Post
 columnist Joel Sherman
"A.J. has a better chance of being in the Yankees' 2012 rotation than CC and way better likelihood than C.J. This is the Yankees' initial problem this offseason. At this moment the Yankees' rotation for next season is A.J. Burnett, Ivan Nova, Phil Hughes and, perhaps, Hector Noesi — or Three Men and a Maybe. Actually it is more akin to a bunch of backup singers in need of a front man. Sabathia would be the most obvious choice in a return engagement and C.J. Wilson could be added as a sidekick. But the Yankees are bracing for potentially difficult negotiations with Sabathia while showing limited to no fascination with Wilson."
Yankees can't afford to lose CC Sabathia if he opts out; Brian Cashman may be in for long offseason
October 16
New York Daily News
 columnist Filip Bondy
"Brian Cashman couldn't sign Cliff Lee last winter and he didn't trade for Zack Greinke when the price was reasonable. Then Phil Hughes had a season to disremember and A.J. Burnett was statistically bipolar again. So here he is facing an offseason as desperate for starters as any in recent Yankee memory, and Cashman is heading toward the perfect free-market storm. There's nobody out there, other than C.J. Wilson. Assuming CC Sabathia opts out of his remaining four years, Cashman is going to have to pay Sabathia his money no matter the cost, no matter the years. The Yanks will have to pay the man holding all the cards, even if it costs them $25 million per year, for five years. Even if it's"
Agent mum on CC's love for NY
October 16
New York Post
 
"After telling ESPN that every effort will be exhausted in order to keep CC Sabathia a Yankee, agent Brian Peters backed off a bit when reached by The Post yesterday. Asked if he believed a deal could be worked out where the Yankees' ace remains in pinstripes, Peters said, "I really don't want to comment one way or another." With Sabathia away on vacation, no talks have started with the Yankees. Sabathia can opt out of the final four years and $92 million on his contract three days after the World Series ends."
Prince Fielder may become Big Apple of Yankees' eye if CC Sabathia signs elsewhere
October 14
New York Daily News
 columnist John Harper
"The Yankees need an aging, slow-footed, full-time DH like they need higher ticket prices. But it was pretty funny to hear David Ortiz wax poetic about the team he killed for so many years because, well, honestly - did you ever think you'd hear a player talk about the Bronx as a place to get away from all the drama? The late George Steinbrenner would be horrified. Indeed, if The Boss was still running the Yankees, creating back-page drama at every turn, he'd probably jump at the chance sign Ortiz as a way of sticking it to the Red Sox. These days the Yankees don't think much in terms of theatrics."
Texas Rangers plan to go after Yankees' CC Sabathia, report says
October 14
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"If Yankees ace CC Sabathia chooses to opt out of his contract, the Texas Rangers are planning to make a strong push to sign him, according to a report on ESPNNewYork.com. "I hear they're going to throw a boatload of money at him," an anonymous source told the website. "But I think he'll stay with the Yankees. He's talked so much about how much he loves New York, and besides, the Yankees can't afford to lose him from that pitching staff.""
The eyes of Texas upon CC?
October 13
ESPN.com
 
"A baseball source told ESPNNewYork.com today that the Texas Rangers, currently one win away from a second straight trip to the World Series but likely to lose starter C.J. Wilson to free agency over the winter, are preparing to make a strong bid to sign CC Sabathia if the Yankees ace chooses to exercise the opt-out clause in his contract, as expected. "I hear they're going to throw a boatload of money at him,'' said the source, who requested anonymity, "But I think he'll stay with the Yankees. He's talked so much about how much he loves New York, and besides, the Yankees can't afford to lose him from that pitching staff.''"
From CC to C.J., rotation is top Yankees issue
October 12
New York Post
 
"From a Tampa tent in February to a cheerless October bunker in The Bronx, the biggest question in the Yankees' universe remains the same. Starting pitching was the most serious when spring training opened without Cliff Lee and Andy Pettitte. Five days after the Tigers ended their season, the topic remains in play, even though Yankees starters went 71-45 with a 4.03 ERA to help win the AL East and play to the best record in the league. "The one need we are going to have to address again is the rotation, there is no doubt about it," Joe Girardi said yesterday at a Yankee Stadium press conference where the manager was peppered with questions about what went wrong and what needs to be fixed."
CC's love for The Bronx may not be enough
October 11
New York Post
 
"Love might not conquer business for CC Sabathia. The Yankees ace -- a possible free agent-to-be -- reiterated yesterday he loves being in New York. But while Sabathia admitted it would be hard to leave, that won't necessarily carry his decision. "Of course it would be [difficult to leave]. It was difficult for me to leave Milwaukee. But you understand that baseball is a business," Sabathia told The Post outside Yankee Stadium yesterday. "I do love it here. My family loves it here. But we'll have to wait and see what happens." That Sabathia cited his time with the Brewers could be an ominous sign and an indicator the lefty is prepared to play hardball with the Yankees. Love might not"
Yankees don't need major changes, but CC Sabathia returning has to be part of the offseason plan
October 9
New York Daily News
 columnist John Harper
"A second straight disappointing October might have fans screaming for changes, but all the Yankees really needed was a base hit by any one of a half-dozen players in Game 5 against the Tigers and they'd still be playing. Is there a sure fix for coming up small in the clutch? More to the point: is there a way to make major changes on a team of aging stars locked into largely untradeable contracts? No, this doesn't figure to be an offseason of major changes for the Yankees, starting with GM Brian Cashman, who seems almost certain to sign a new deal as his contract expires in a few weeks. Once that is done, this could be much like last winter, when Cashman was focused on one big move. There"
Sabathia opting to stay an ace
October 8
New York Post
 
"CC Sabathia has four years left on his contract with the Yankees, and assuming he opts out, as he is allowed to do at the end of this season, he presumably will want another two or three years tacked on. And the 31-year-old lefty said he can remain an ace for that long. "There's no reason to think I can't," Sabathia said late Thursday night after the Yankees' ALDS loss. Sabathia is expected to decide to opt out of his seven-year $161 million contract, unless he and the Yankees agree to an extension beforehand. But assuring a 31-year-old starter six or seven more seasons is a major commitment, especially considering Sabathia already has pitched for 11 years and weighs 300 pounds. That"
Yankees 2012 To-Do List: CC Sabathia's contract, Robinson Cano's option and more
October 7
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Now that the Yankees head to their offseason, a look at what they must do to get ready for 2012: 1. Retain the GM The Yankees want general manager Brian Cashman back, and Cashman doesn't seem to want to go anywhere. So, it's a safe bet Cashman and the franchise that has employed him his entire adult life will quickly agree on a new contract. The faster they retain Cashman, the quicker he can move to explore trades for more pitching."
CC Sabathia says he's not ready to think about his contract
October 7
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Not even an hour after his sterling season came to an abrupt end tonight with the Yankees' loss to the Detroit Tigers in the American League Division Series, CC Sabathia insists he hasn't thought about the future. The Yankees ace can exercise the opt-out clause in his contract this offseason, a deal he signed before the 2009 season. But Sabathia said everything was too fresh for him to even think about any decision. "I can't even wrap my head around that right now," Sabathia said. "I'm just thinking about what I didn't do to help us win. Maybe in the next couple days, next couple of weeks, I'll think about that and see what happens.""
CC Sabathia can opt out of contract this offseason, could command big free agent money
October 7
New York Daily News
 
"Now that their 2011 season has ended, the Yankees must confront the major business of the winter - fixing their starting rotation for 2012 - and the major question of their offseason: What do they do if - more like when - CC Sabathia opts out of his contract? The can trigger a clause in the seven-year, $161-million deal he signed before the 2009 season that would make him the most attractive pitcher on what is a mostly-soft free-agent market for pitchers."
Every Yankees pitcher, from CC Sabathia to Rivera, maybe even A.J, ready for Game 5
October 6
New York Daily News
 
"It will be all hands on deck, or to be more accurate, a call to arms for the Yankees Thursday night in their win-or-go-home Game 5 of the American League division series as Joe Girardi proclaimed every pitcher, with the possible exception of A.J. Burnett, could be called upon Thursday night. And while Yankees fans may have not seen the last of CC Sabathia this series, the same can't be said of Tigers ace Justin Verlander, who Detroit manager Jim Leyland said will definitely not see action Thursday night. "Have your spikes on and be ready to go," Girardi said of his pitching mind-set for Game 5. "That's the bottom line.""
CC opt-out will put Yanks in tough spot
October 5
New York Post
 columnist Joel Sherman
"The Yankees face yet another Cliff Lee problem this offseason. Had they signed Lee last winter, the Yankees would have an ace-level starter under contract and not feel the need to do anything possible to keep CC Sabathia when he opts out of his contract after the World Series. But in the worst possible combination, the Yanks failed to land Lee despite making a seven-year, $146 million offer that creates a benchmark that the Sabathia camp will probably demand be matched — at the least. Those two factors provide the backdrop for the Yankees' biggest issue of the offseason. If they don't retain Sabathia, then who does this win-now team use as its ace in 2012? But to retain Sabathia, the Yanks"
CC on wild side, can't cage Tigers
October 4
New York Post
 
"CC Sabathia declined to make any excuses for his poor outing last night and refused to blame home-plate umpire Gerry Davis' strike zone, despite what his catcher and manager said. In his first full start of the playoffs, Sabathia labored in the Yankees' 5-4 ALDS Game 3 defeat to the Tigers, delivering his shortest outing of the season in his most important. The entire night it seemed Sabathia had spotty command and no put-away pitch. He allowed four runs on seven hits and six walks in just 5 1/3 innings for totals of 13 Tigers baserunners and 16 outs."
In a different era, Yankees' CC Sabathia and Tigers' Justin Verlander would be expected to work more
October 2
New York Daily News
 columnist Bill Madden
"Listening to Joe Girardi explaining why it wasn't the right thing to do, bringing back CC Sabathia to pitch Saturday night after he'd "taxed" himself by throwing 27 pitches before the rains suspended Game 1 of the division series, and then hearing his Tigers counterpart Jim Leyland give the same assessment on his ace, Justin Verlander, once again illustrated how drastically baseball has changed from those halcyon days before pitch counts. By now we all get it - between the longer season with its three-tiered playoffs and the amount of money clubs have invested in their starting pitchers, especially the ace types like Sabathia and Verlander, arms must be preserved at all costs. Five-man"
Sabathia will start Game 3 for Yankees
October 2
New York Post
 
"Because CC Sabathia won't start Game 2 of the ALDS today against the Tigers, the Yankees ace is likely no longer a possibility to start a potential series-deciding Game 5. After Friday night's suspension of Game 1, which the Yankees won 9-3 when it resumed last night at the Stadium, Sabathia had said he would campaign to start Game 2 this afternoon. That would have allowed him to potentially pitch Game 5 Thursday on three days' rest. But Freddy Garcia will start in Game 2, meaning if there's a Game 5, Ivan Nova -- who was sharp and picked up the win in last night's Game 1 resumption -- is in line to take the ball."
CC Sabathia can make a statement against Justin Verlander in Game 1
September 30
Newark Star-Ledger
 columnist Steve Politi
"He watched the incredible night of baseball with his 8-year-old son at his side, taking advantage of what he called a "little setup" that allowed them to watch all three pivotal games at once. CC Sabathia lives in a 12,000-square-foot mansion in Alpine that cost $14.9 million. Chances are, that "little setup" he's talking about is the size and capacity of your neighborhood Best Buy. But we digress. "It was a cool night," Sabathia said with a smile Thursday, but he spoke with the detachment of a spectator, not a participant. The final day of baseball's regular season was a cool night, about as cool as anyone in this sport has ever seen. But it wasn't his night. Tonight is."
Yankees vs. Tigers ALDS: CC Sabathia must pitch like ace
September 30
New York Daily News
 columnist John Harper
"The Yankees managed to make Andy Pettitte's retirement surprisingly painless this season, with pitching that outperformed expectations. But this is the time of year when Pettitte always loomed as such a security blanket, rarely never the Game 1 starter but forever there to restore order in a series if necessary. It doesn't mean Ivan Nova and Freddy Garcia won't pitch well in this postseason. It just means that on the eve of this series with the Tigers, they don't exactly qualify as security blankets. It also means that CC Sabathia needs to be great when he goes to the mound Friday night. The Yankees and their relentless lineup are good enough to beat the Tigers even if they lose Game 1 to"
CC helps rook after rocky debut
September 25
New York Post
 
"This is what you want when you drop seven years and $161 million on a player and another reason why the Yankees should present CC Sabathia with a blank check long before he has to decide to opt out. Moments after Dellin Betances' disastrous major league debut Thursday night against the Rays -- when the Brooklyn product issued four walks, hit a batter and gave up two runs -- he got a text message from Sabathia. Then Friday, Sabathia pulled up a chair at Betances' locker and had a chat with the 23-year-old right-hander. "Right after the game he shot me a text telling me to keep my head up," Betances said."
Sabathia will pitch a simulated game Sunday
September 23
New York Post
 
"Cc Sabathia has made his final start of the regular season. The left-hander will pitch a simulated game Sunday to get ready for Game 1 of the ALDS on Friday. "It's easier to control the environment when you don't get into a long inning," manager Joe Girardi said of the decision not to pitch Sabathia against the Red Sox. "Then you have to use the whole bullpen again. We're trying to keep him in a similar routine [as the rest of the year]." Sabathia said he was fine with his season ending with 19 wins."
No 20th win for CC
September 22
New York Post
 
"CC Sabathia had a chance to lock down the AL East crown for the Yankees last night and win his 20th game for the second straight year. The Yankees got their division title, but Sabathia's milestone will have to wait. The big left-hander was solid last night, though he was unable to finish off the Rays in the eighth. But the Yankees used Jorge Posada's pinch-hit single to complete a sweep of yesterday's doubleheader, 4-2, in the nightcap. "I tried to do whatever I could to keep us in the game," said Sabathia, who remained 19-8 with the no-decision."
Jeter, Sabathia, A-Rod help Yankees sweep Blue Jays
September 5
New York Post
 
"Yankees haters love games like yesterday's, in which the club's biggest stars lit up a muggy Bronx afternoon. CC Sabathia, Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez each played huge roles in a 9-3 victory that completed a sweep of the Blue Jays in front of 47,464 at Yankee Stadium. Immediately, you could hear the howling cut through the thick air. The detractors don't need the Yankees to lose. They simply point to the money the Yankees are paying their stars and insist they should win. And when the trio performs like they did, it's almost impossible for the Yankees to lose. Jeter slugged a three-run homer in the third inning and added a two-run single in the eighth to tie a career-high with five"
Sabathia bears down -- and bares teeth
August 31
ESPN.com
 
"CC Sabathia wanted a heavyweight fight at Fenway, and no, John Lackey did not look half as eager to engage as Pedro Martinez looked the night Don Zimmer charged him from the enemy side. Sabathia was incensed when Lackey hit Francisco Cervelli for doing a little end zone dance, for celebrating his homer by clapping his hands extra hard upon touching the plate. The ace of the New York Yankees was on the field shouting and gesturing at his opponent, this as a procession of much smaller men tried in vain to calm him. Jorge Posada, of all people, was the most convincing peacemaker, though he was carrying a bat when he persuaded Sabathia to return to the bench. CC had already thrown his 128th"
Sabathia refuses to give in to Red Sox, pitches like true Yankees ace at Fenway Park
August 31
New York Daily News
 
"The game was like so many others between the Red Sox and the Yankees, these scattered pockets of great drama spread out across the kind of slogfest that so often defines what we still insist on calling the greatest rivalry in sports. When this one was over, and the Yankees had gotten their third game of this season off Boston - mostly because CC Sabathia's heart was as big as his fastball on this night, as big as he is - you started to wonder if it was John Lackey and Francisco Cervelli who nearly started a brawl at Fenway, or Don Zimmer and Pedro Martinez. Or maybe Bill (Spaceman) Lee. Time of game, for a nine-inning game? One minute short of four hours. The Yankees won, 5-2. The Red Sox"
Sabathia finally beats Red Sox, benches clear after Francisco Cervelli plunked in 5-2 Yankees win
August 31
New York Daily News
 
"If you thought the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry had lost some juice with both teams likely to make the playoffs, Tuesday night's game may have changed your mind. Two ejections and one bench-clearing incident were the emotional highlights of the Yankees' 5-2 win, and while there were no brawls between the clubs, the tone was set for the three-game series. "It's part of the game," said Francisco Cervelli, who was at the center of it all. "It's Yankees-Boston. Everybody wants to win." Nobody wanted to win more than CC Sabathia, who had lost all four of his starts while posting a 7.20 ERA against the Red Sox this season. Sabathia finally beat Boston, although he needed a season-high 128 pitches"
Sabathia guts out needed win
August 31
New York Post
 
"CC Sabathia was behind in the count to Adrian Gonzalez 3-1. The Red Sox third-place hitter represented the tying run at that moment, but this was a symbolic showdown in so many more ways for the Yankees ace. Here were the Red Sox again authoring one wearying at-bat after another against Sabathia, testing his patience, endurance and repertoire. They were the team he could not beat so far in 2011 and he was teetering now. Sabathia essentially had been in a prevent defense all game, a lot of bending. No breaking. Sabathia had struck out Gonzalez three times in three at-bats to this point, finishing each with a devilish slider. But Gonzalez did not bite on two sliders that Sabathia described"
Sabathia says loss 'totally my fault'
August 25
New York Post
 
"oe Girardi came out to the mound in the eighth inning last night, not to take the ball from CC Sabathia with the tying run on second, but to encourage him. "It's your game," the Yankees manager told Sabathia. "Let's go." Normally, it's the type of situation Sabathia thrives in, especially this time of year. But this time, he gave up his third hit of the night to Scott Sizemore, and it was a game-tying double that played a large role in the Yankees' 6-4 loss to the Athletics in 10 innings at Yankee Stadium. When Sizemore scored after David Robertson came in, Sabathia stood to lose for the third time in four games. "Tonight was totally my fault," said Sabathia, who gave up three runs in 7"
Call goes Yankees' way as Sabathia wins No. 17
August 19
The Journal News
 
"This time a home-run call went the Yankees' way, and for a while that made all the difference. The Yankees pulled away in the ninth inning, but for a while Thursday's 8-4 win against the Twins hinged on an overturned, two-run home run in the first inning. "It's almost like we needed to get paid back," first baseman Mark Teixeira said. One night after a blown call cost the Yankees in Kansas City, Justin Morneau's reviewed and reversed homer seemed like karma. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire argued until he was ejected, but a televised replay showed Morneau's fly ball going to the right of the right-field foul pole. The umpires seemed to get the call correct. Those two runs off the board were"
Sabathia snaps his 2-game skid as Yankees beat Twins
August 19
New York Post
 
"There have been evenings this season when you watched the Yankees and truly believed they should be the favorites to win the World Series. Of course, there have also been nights when you wondered if Peggy Lee had the Yankees in mind when she crooned "Is That All There Is." Last night at Target Field, a jewel of a baseball stadium, the Yankees answered to Jekyll and Hyde in an 8-4 victory over the Twins that was witnessed by 41,126 on a perfect summer night. Five of CC Sabathia's seven frames were scoreless but he gave up two in the second and two in the seventh and surrendered 10 hits. It wasn't a dominating performance but did stop a personal two-game losing streak and hike Sabathia's"
Sabathia Goes for a History Lesson
August 18
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"Part of C. C. Sabathia's preparation this week for his start Thursday included some cardio work, a bullpen session and an inspirational visit to a museum. Sabathia and the bullpen coach Mike Harkey spent Tuesday morning at the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum at the famous intersection of 18th and Vine in the home of one of the iconic Negro league teams, the Kansas City Monarchs. During a special tour of the museum, Sabathia was once again struck by the legend of one of the most celebrated players from those days, the Hall of Fame pitcher Satchel Paige. "He is my favorite player from that era," Sabathia said. "I love reading about him. Nobody knows how old he was. But they knew what a great"