No dogging it from Sabathia
TAMPA — It is no longer early and not necessarily late in spring training, a time known in some circles as the “Dog Days Of March.’’ CC Sabathia has been through countless spring trainings and understands the responsibility a big league pitcher has, even if the days blend into each other with alarming regularity and playing games that don’t count pile up. Still, the 36-year-old lefty knows not letting complacency invade his mind is paramount to preparing for the beginning of the regular season early next month. “Keep working and not getting complacent down here,’’ Sabathia said of handling the Dog Days. “Make sure the pitches are making the actions they are supposed to be making. I felt like we did a good job of that today.’’ Held back at the beginning of camp because he was coming off arthroscopic surgery on the right knee following last season, Sabathia made his third exhibition start Saturday in a 5-4 loss to the Orioles at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “I felt good. I wanted to make better pitchers at the end to the lefty [Pedro Alvarez], but overall I felt pretty good,’’ Sabathia said of the two-out, RBI single off the wall in the fourth inning that preceded Chris Johnson’s two-run homer to left. Sabathia, who gave up six runs (four earned) in two-thirds of an inning in his previous outing on March 12, didn’t allow a hit in the first three frames and just onone baserunner. “Just getting better, just kind of building,’’ a Sabathia said of the 65-pitch outing. “I though the change-up was good and the cutter was good for the most part. I felt the slider was good.’’ Sabathia said all five strikeouts were on sliders and Johnson’s homer came on a cutter. A pair of scouts on hand Saturday had somewhat different views of Sabathia, who finished last year strong and will be a free agent following the upcoming season after making $25 million. “He was good, changed speeds well,’’ one scout said. “He knows who he is at this stage with the fastball, which was 86-to-89 mph.’’
“He is trying with limited stuff and can’t make a mistake,’’ another scout said.
However, the Yankees gladly will take a repeat of Sabathia’s 2016, when he went 9-12 with a 3.91 ERA and logged 179 2/3 innings, which were the most since 2013 when he threw 211. And they would be pleased if Sabathia picked up where he left off in the final eight starts of last year, when he went 2-2 with a sparkling 2.37 ERA. In those 49 ¹/3 innings, Sabathia allowed 41 hits, struck out 42, allowed 14 walks and held batters to a .227 average and a .667 OPS.
“I have to work. I can’t let up and I did that today and gave up a [single] to [Alvarez],’’ said Sabathia, who has a career ledger of 223-141. “For me it’s a mental battle to stay in it and keep working hard in the weight room, PFP [pitchers fielding practice] and in the bullpen and take it one day at a time.’’
A year ago, Sabathia was locked in a fight with Ivan Nova for the fifth starter in manager Joe Girardi’s rotation. Sabathia won the battle, Nova is with the Pirates and there are five arms competing for the final two spots in the rotation. None of those five are Sabathia, who is being viewed as the No. 2 or No. 3 starter and not under any pressure to outdo another pitcher in games that don’t count.
“I am more concerned that the stuff is right than results and you can say that to a lot of people,’’ Girardi said. “His stuff was better. I still don’t think it is where it at the end of last season.’’