CC reveals severity of his knee pain
CC Sabathia will cross the finish line of his possible Hall of Fame career in constant pain.
“It’s always the same,” Sabathia, who is on the injured list for the third time this season, said Saturday about his ailing right knee. “If I had to scale it on a scale of one to 10, it’s always an eight and when it’s bad it’s 10.”
Sabathia, who announced the 2019 season would be his last back in February, hit the IL again last Sunday after a rough stretch that saw the 39year-old lefty go 0-2 over four starts. His last win came on June 24 against Toronto.
Aaron Boone told reporters that he was concerned about the knee, while stressing his confidence in CC’s ability to compete through pain.
“We understand he’s a warrior,” Boone said about his rotation stalwart. “He goes out and pitches through stuff that a lot of guys wouldn’t be able to handle.”
The good news is that the veteran knows the drill — even if it is a painful one.
“It honestly just is what it is,” Sabathia admitted before the Yankees played a split doubleheader against the rival Red Sox at the Stadium, “just kind of deal with it when it comes.
“It’s not really alarming at this point. It was two years ago. I can get through it and figure it out.”
The Yankees certainly hope so because the Bombers will need to count on Sabathia if they hope to end a decadelong World Series title drought this October. Despite a shaky rotation that features every starter with a plus-4 ERA, GM Brian Cashman opted not to grab a starter at the trade deadline. Instead the Yanks hope Luis Severino will return to the mix before the end of the season.
Sabathia, who has had his right knee operated on four times since the 2010 season, said he underwent a plateletrich plasma and a lubricant for the most recent flare up as he tries to get back on the mound.
He told reporters that he plans on starting to play catch next week.
“Once I’m able to play catch, it doesn’t take me that long,” Sabathia said. “It may take a little longer this time just because the PRP takes a little longer.”
Sabathia, now in his 11th season in pinstripes, has a 5-6 record with a 4.78 ERA over 17 starts and 90.1 innings.
He has reached two major milestones this season as he looks to boost his resume for Hall of Fame consideration. He earned career win No. 250 on June 19 as the Yankees thumped the Rays 12-1 in the Bronx. In April, Sabathia became the 17th pitcher to reach 3,000 strikeouts.
Sabathia also addressed the report that he is dealing with a bum shoulder.
“It just was a little cranky,” Sabathia said. “Everything’s good.”
With The Associated Press