If Sabathia “Is on the Right Track” Then Color Me Worried!

I know it’s spring training and I know I’m overreacting. The fact that I know this separates me from a lot of other fans and maybe inches me closer to the “sane” side of the ballpark. Maybe not. I know that spring training stats are meaningless and it’s all about simply getting the work in and getting out alive and healthy but you still don’t get that fuzzy warm feeling in your stomach when you see a guy struggle. Plus, and I don’t know if this is just me, you don’t like to hear a guy say he’s “right on track” after struggling in the spring either.

Enter CC Sabathia. Sabathia struggled in his latest spring start and came out of it saying all the right things. He’s right on track but how can he say that? He’s throwing meatballs down the middle of the plate at 86 MPH, is this what we should expect from the big man this season? Look, he came out of it healthy and he got the work in. That’s all that matters and I realize this but that doesn’t make me confident going into next season at the same time. Not if he is going to struggle with his control and his velocity once again.

I’m the biggest CC supporter there is as a person, he’s a true inspiration, role model and leader, but as a player (and me as a fan first, blogger second) I am a bit worried. He has the stuff and the talent to be the best #5 starter in the league but if he lays an egg like he did this spring very often this season his win/loss record likely won’t look good once again at the end of the season. Sabathia is paid to win games, he’s the highest paid player on the team this season and one of the highest paid players in all of MLB this season so I don’t think it’s unfair to expect or want a little more.

I’m not screaming doom and gloom yet, just something about that comment rubbed me the wrong way. Velocity was down, command was down, pitches were up and so was the opposing team’s score. There is still plenty of time to get the work in and turn things around, trust me I’m far from worried, but a couple more starts like this and I may be.

The Players Tribune & Why I’m Once Again Rooting for CC Sabathia

CC Sabathia, what can be said that hasn’t already been said? The 15-year veteran of the league has won a Cy Young Award, he’s made six All-Star teams, won a World Series with the New York Yankees and has a career total of 214 wins entering the 2016 season. None of that will be talked about for much of this season though, no, all eyes will be on his degenerative right knee and his bodily actions and effectiveness after checking himself into an alcohol rehabilitation center last October while the Yankees made a short playoff run in 2015.

Rather than answer these questions every start, every pitch he throws and every corner he turns Sabathia used the Players Tribune, the blog run by athletes currently owned by Derek Jeter, to express his own struggle in his own words. That’s what makes the Players Tribune so great, there is nothing being taken out of context and there is nothing being misconstrued or twisted, these are Sabathia’s words from his mouth to your screen.

Sabathia opened up on the Tribune about his toughest out he ever got, the out from under the shadow of alcoholism. Sabathia wasn’t scared to enter rehab and he put himself and his family above us the fans, the team and his job and that’s damn admirable. Sabathia could go out this season and win 35 games, lead the Yankees to a World Series, win a Cy Young Award and eventually win 300 games and in my heart and in my opinion that would mean nothing to me. What means the world to me is his courage and leadership to tackle this disease head on like a fighter would and beat it, like a Yankee always does.

The Yankees need leaders and more importantly the world needs leaders and Sabathia is one of them. Win, lose or draw CC I just want you to know on the off chance that you or your lovely wife Amber might be reading this that we support you here at The Greedy Pinstripes. I think I can speak for all Yankees fans in saying that we all support you, we all agree with what you did and we all love you as a person, as a leader and as a member of the New York Yankees.

You’re going to kick alcohol’s ass and you’re going to kick anyone and everyone’s ass in front of you this season, I believe that. Go CC!!!

TGP Top 29 Prospects List - #15 Slade Heathcott

So we're officially half way through Prospects Month and halfway through our Top 30 Yankees Prospects list we do every single year. Up to this point we've seen just two players who have seen time in the Major Leagues and both of them have been pitchers, today that changes. Today we showcase an outfielder on the Yankees 40 man roster that already has a clutch and defining moment or two inside Yankees pinstripes, Mr. Slade Heathcott.

Everyone talks about fellow prospect Ty Hensley and his ability to battle adversity and keep his head up while continuing to not only fight but improve but not enough is said about Heathcott. Heathcott has been on the 40 man roster only to find himself released and without a job before returning to the club. Heathcott has battled serious injury after serious injury and had an even more serious battle with alcoholism before returning to the Yankees and his savior to get back on track. Get back on track he did and in a big way in 2015.

Heathcott returned to the 40 man roster and made his MLB debut all while making a name for himself with a huge three run home run that ultimately won a game against the Tampa Bay Rays. Heathcott will likely pass the threshold from prospect to MLB regular this season so enjoy him while you can, you're 15th best Yankees prospect for Prospects Month 2016.

15. Slade Heathcott
16. Abi Avelino
17. Hoy-Jun Park
18. Luis Torrens
19. Cale Coshow
20. Chance Adams
21. Miguel Andujar
22. Jonathan Holder
23. Tyler Wade
24. Nick Rumbelow
25.Jordan Montgomery
26.Trey Amburgey
27. Ben Gamel
28. Austin DeCarr
29. Thairo Estrada
30. James Pazos

CC Sabathia Could Be Primed for a Major Comeback in 2016

CC Sabathia has a monkey off his back, the weight of the world off his shoulders and thanks to a new knee brace he has the weight of his body off his right knee for the most part. The offseason is the time to think big and dream big and I am dreaming really big right here because in my heart of heart’s I truly believe that CC is primed for a major comeback season in 2016.

Before we get too far ahead of ourselves let us define the term “major comeback” in terms of CC. Alex Rodriguez had a major comeback in 2015 and so did Mark Teixeira, that doesn’t mean they were necessarily MVP candidates and such. The same goes for CC, he can have a major comeback season without returning to ace form or being dominant again at 95 MPH. If CC stays healthy and actually keeps the Yankees in games while winning more than he’s losing, that’s a major step forward and a major comeback for Sabathia.

I don’t pretend to know what it’s like battling alcoholism and I don’t pretend to know whether he was drinking before starts, whether it affected his endurance or product on the field or anything like that. I do know that, based of comments he has made, he is light years ahead in his conditioning and with his arm this season and his head is clear. A pitcher can be their own worst enemy and on days when your curveball isn’t working or your fastball won’t go where you place it the difference between a disaster of a start or a good start is mostly mental.

The physical should improve. You would think without the alcohol CC would have more cardio, more endurance and more stamina heading into 2016. The new knee brace he tried out at the end of 2015 also seemed to help significantly, although getting on and off the mound quickly will still be a struggle for Sabathia.

Sabathia is a leader, he doesn’t need to be an ace. The Yankees have a ton of young pitchers and players coming up and down from the team all the time. CC is primed to lead and not only lead by example but lead with his words. He’s a warrior and I commend him while I look forward to his major comeback season in 2016. I’m rooting for you big man!