CC Sabathia had just gone nine innings in a deciding Game 5 of the 2012 ALDS against the pesky Orioles and sent the Yankees to the ALCS versus the Tigers.
Inside a euphoric Yankees clubhouse a staff member turned to a peer and said, “That’s pitching, that’s what an ace is about.’’
At that moment there was no doubt who was the leader of the Yankees’ rotation.
However, since that four-hit, one-run, nine-strikeout outing, Sabathia was blasted by the Tigers in Game 4 of the ALCS, had a bone spur removed from the left elbow, shed 25 pounds before the 2013 season in which he went 14-13 with a 4.78 ERA with and strengthened his body this past winter only to start the year with a 3-4 record and a 5.75 ERA.
And likely lost six-to-seven miles per hour off his fastball which rarely pushes the speed guns past 91 mph and usually lingers in the 88-89 mph range.
Since that Orioles game, one of the best ever pitched by a Yankee in the postseason, Sabathia is 18-18 with a 5.04 ERA and has allowed a staggering 285 hits and 76 walks in 255 ¹/₃ innings.
During the offseason Brian Cashman questioned Sabathia’s role as staff ace and the large lefty hasn’t proved the general manager wrong. Sunday at Yankee Stadium the denizens booed Sabathia off the mound as he left in the fourth inning against the Rays.
One of the most astute players in the Yankees’ clubhouse, Sabathia is aware of everything. He knows the Yankees are counting on him and understands the responsibility making $23 million brings.
And through it all, Sabathia believes he is much better than the pitcher with a sub-.500 record and bloated ERA who starts Saturday in Milwaukee against the Brewers. It will be the first time Sabathia, who pitched the Brewers into October in 2008 by going 11-2 with a 1.65 ERA in 17 games after being acquired from the Indians, returns to a city he has a soft spot for.
“You have to deal with it and keep going,’’ Sabathia said. “The good thing I know is that I am not hurt or feeling bad, so I can turn it around.’’
Joe Girardi constantly explains Sabathia’s problems. The biggest is avoiding multi-run innings, and has to do with pitches — most notably the changeup — that cut but shouldn’t.
Sabathia adds another item.
“It’s cutting, but making the wrong pitch,’’ Sabathia said.
In his 14th year Sabathia, 34 in July, understands the need to let the bad ones go. Yet performances like Sunday’s when he gave up five runs and 10 hits in 3 ²/₃ innings, don’t vanish with the postgame shower suds.
Asked Tuesday how long Sunday’s awful feeling lingered, Sabathia said: “Today, when I throw a bullpen.”
Pitching coach Larry Rothschild notices starts such as Sunday’s eating at Sabathia, who was 205-115 with a 3.60 ERA when the season opened.
“There is frustration there because you got a guy who has pitched at the level he has pitched at. That’s just normal,’’ Rothschild said. “That’s part of being a human being and wanting to help the team. He has pitched at a high level for a long time.’’
With Friday night’s starter, Masahiro Tanaka, the Yankees have an evolving ace. Hiroki Kuroda rebounded from three sub-par outings with a terrific effort Tuesday against the Angels in Anaheim.
Now the Yankees need Sabathia to follow Kuroda’s lead, because without either of the veterans pitching to his pedigree, it’s difficult to believe the Yankees have enough pitching to remain afloat, even in the parity-laced AL East.