CC Sabathia realized he had a problem he needed to correct, but it's the MLB that is now facing a big issue and public backlash.
The pitcher announced in a statement Monday that he is checking himself into alcohol rehab and will not be available for the postseason, which begins Tuesday at Yankee Stadium when the Bronx Bombers host the Astros in the 2015 Wild Card Game. But now the MLB is under scrutiny after Yankees manager Joe Girardi and general manager Brian Cashman conducted a press conference about Sabathia's decision with an AL Wild Card Game banner behind them which read, "presented by Budweiser."
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There's no need to explain how inappropriate and insensitive to the issue the banner seemed, but the MLB remained defiant. Perhaps the league is blinded by greed, but it stood by keeping the banner present.
"CC Sabathia made an important life decision and we are fully supportive of his seeking treatment," the statement read, according to The Sun Herald. "This situation involving an individual player should not in any way impact baseball's relationship with Budweiser, a longtime valued partner that constantly promotes drinking responsibly."
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In other words, just because one player has a problem, it doesn't mean the league is looking to lose out on an opportunity to make even more money -- regardless of how unbecoming it was.
The Wild Card Game, which will see Masahiro Tanaka take the mound for New York against Houston's Dallas Keuchel, will be sponsored by Budweiser. The MLB has never been shy about celebrations involving alcohol as it is an expectation that teams will douse each other in champagne and beer after clinching a playoff berth and again when they advance in the playoffs.
The MLB is never gun-shy about sharing in the celebrating.
Just this year, American League MVP candidate Josh Donaldson downed many beers after the club clinched the AL East for the first time since 1993, while Jose Bautista also helped lead the club's celebration, as documented by MLB.com (see video below).
HOW MANY BEERS, @BringerOfRain20!? https://t.co/OlvDnjwlS4
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) October 1, 2015
The MLB faced a lot of Twitter backlash after the advertisement was displayed:
I mean, seriously, @MLB, can you turn off the hypocrisy-for-cash tap for 20 damned minutes? #Sabathia #Budweiser https://t.co/navptc8i0N — Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) October 5, 2015
Cashman holds a press con & highlights the danger of alcohol addiction...and at the bottom of page... Sponsored by Budweiser. Duh! #Yankees
— Steve Ashton (@SteveLAshton) October 5, 2015
#Yankees hold press conference to announce CC Sabathia alcohol rehab... with Budweiser logos in the background. Nice. pic.twitter.com/twpNfhBOgG — kyle davies (@davieskyle) October 6, 2015
Hey @espn - please stop promoting the @Yankees Wild Card game using pictures of CC and the tag line "sponsored by @Budweiser".
— Tim Hodges (@TimHodges402) October 6, 2015
@CarolynHinsey Someone should have got the kid to paint over the #Budweiser Logo... #Yankees #CCSabathia pic.twitter.com/IgEvFEm2eI — Day of the Eagle (@Nottinghams1) October 5, 2015
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