C.C. Sabathia has more than a “slim” chance of having a rebound season.
Sabathia, a six-time all-star, pitched nothing like an all-star in 2013. Despite winning 14 games, and throwing 211.0 innings in 2013, Sabathia pitched to the tune of a 4.78 ERA. His 2013 ERA was the highest of his career, even worse than his 4.39 ERA during his rookie season of 2001. It should be noted that Sabathia went 17-5 in his rookie season.
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Fans and analysts across the country believe Sabathia's sub-par 2013 season was due to his weight loss. He dropped more than 30 pounds last off season and came into Spring Training much thinner than before. However Sabathia lost more than weight last off season. He lost velocity on his fastball. It dropped from averaging 94 MPH to averaging 91 MPH.
"I think it was just losing that much weight and trying to play a professional sport,'' Sabathia said. "I probably did it the wrong way going into a baseball season last year. I was joking in there with [trainer Stevie Donohue] that I felt like 'The Biggest Loser' last year.”
2014 looks to be a different story. Even Yankees manager Joe Girardi has noticed a change in his star pitcher.
"I was pleased with what I saw from him him, too," said Girardi. "He's ahead of where he was last spring, certainly.”
Sabathia will have a great season for the Yankees in 2014. Fans have no reason to count out Sabathia, who has proven himself to be a big game pitcher time and time again. Take a look at his career numbers since the 2007 season. Even with a sub par 2013, Sabathia is 124-59, with a 3.34 ERA over the last seven seasons. That record amounts to a .678 winning percentage. No one can argue Sabathia's success on the mound.
Girardi noted to the media that while Sabathia didn't throw a lot of strikes in his first live BP of the spring, he did maintain maximum effort and velocity the entire time. That was a problem for Sabathia in 2013. He often looked gassed and out of rhythm by the fifth inning of games. The fact that Sabathia is already maintain a solid velocity and effort means he's well ahead of his 2013 pace.
Another factor to consider in regards to Sabathia's lackluster 2013 season was the amount of offense support behind him. The Yankees scored a total of 31 runs in Sabathia's 13 losses last season, an average of 2.4 runs per game. Derek Jeter was injured for most of season. Alex Rodriguez was injured and suspended. Curtis Granderson and Mark Texeria were out. Inexperienced players such as David Adams and Zolio Almonte were expected to replace the all-star caliber players. The season was doomed from the start. Had the Yankees' offense been more productive, Sabathia would have won more games.
The fact is the 2013 season is over. Sabathia is becoming an older pitcher. But with age comes experience. Sabathia is one of the most accomplished pitchers in the game today. He doesn't need blazing fastball anymore. Sabathia needs to become a Greg Maddux or an Andy Pettitte-type pitcher; out-thinking his opponents instead of out-gassing them.
"I watched Andy do his thing for a number of years here and he didn't blow hitters away," Sabathia said. "You're going to lose a little bit off your fastball as you get older. Aging is just a fact of life. But this is my 14th year in the big leagues and I think I've learned a lot of about pitching over the years. You don't need a 95-mph fastball to succeed. You can get hitters out with other pitches, too."
As long as Sabathia can get hitters out, the Yankees will have a productive 2014 season.
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