C.C. Sabathia has fallen very far from what he once was. He is a former Cy Young award winner with a decorated resume throughout his time in MLB. Sabathia joined the Yankees and slimmed down dramatically and he was looking good. Then, this season Sabathia started to perform at a less than stellar rate for the Yankees, bringing up some concerns about Sabathia’s diet, conditioning and if CC was done as a big time pitcher in the MLB.
It appears that now we may have a reason for the 6-time All-Star’s recent struggles. He may have been dealing with some personal demons.
Sabathia released the following statement courtesy of ABC 7 in New York.
“Today I am checking myself into an alcohol rehabilitation center to receive the professional care and assistance needed to treat my disease.
“I love baseball and I love my teammates like brothers, and I am also fully aware that I am leaving at a time when we should all be coming together for one last push toward the World Series. It hurts me deeply to do this now, but I owe it to myself and to my family to get myself right. I want to take control of my disease, and I want to be a better man, father and player.
“I want to thank the New York Yankees organization for their encouragement and understanding. Their support gives me great strength and has allowed me to move forward with this decision with a clear mind.
“As difficult as this decision is to share publicly, I don’t want to run and hide. But for now please respect my family’s need for privacy as we work through this challenge together.
“Being an adult means being accountable. Being a baseball player means that others look up to you. I want my kids – and others who may have become fans of mine over the years – to know that I am not too big of a man to ask for help. I want to hold my head up high, have a full heart and be the type of person again that I can be proud of. And that’s exactly what I am going to do.
“I am looking forward to being out on the field with my team next season playing the game that brings me so much happiness.”
Sabathia will not be on the Yankees postseason roster and while he wasn’t expected to be on it anyway, it’s still a glaring absence considering Sabathia was on the 2009 Yankees World Series team and he won the ALCS MVP award.
For Sabathia, rehabbing his personal demons is priority number one right now and he’ll need to get right in his personal life before he returns to an MLB pitching mound.
