New York Yankees’ CC Sabathia to enter alcohol abuse program

New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia announced today that he is entering a rehabilitation program for alcohol abuse and will not be available to the team during the postseason. He issued the following statement about his decision:

“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.”

Yankees manager Joe Girardi placed his full support behind his player: “What CC’s dealing with is a life issue; it’s bigger than the game that we have tomorrow night.” It may sound cliché, but at the end of the day baseball really is only a game, and a situation like this absolutely takes priority.

Those who follow Sabathia and the Yankees closely are likely taken aback by the revelation. Even during his struggles on the field over the past few seasons, he has generally appeared upbeat and level-headed. He was involved in an altercation outside a Toronto nightclub in August, but at the time it appeared to be an isolated incident.

The 35-year-old lefty had actually been performing considerably better of late. Over his last nine starts he posted a 2.86 ERA in 50.1 innings. It may have seemed somewhat laughable earlier in the year, but Sabathia could have been a key arm for the Yankees should they advance in the postseason. They will now have to manage with other options if they make their way to the ALDS.

Sabathia’s teammates appear to be rallying around him on the eve of tomorrow’s Wild Card matchup against the Houston Astros. As Alex Rodriguez put it: “We play for CC now.”

Next: Beltran key to Yankees' return to postseason

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