CC Sabathia Reports to Yankees’ Spring Training at 305 Pounds
February 22, 2015 · Matt Fitzgerald · Jump to comments
Article Source: Bleacher Report - New York Yankees
New York Yankees star pitcher CC Sabathia has reported to spring training, weighing in at a beefed-up 305 pounds.
The sizable southpaw is seeking a 2015 resurgence after two disappointing years in the Bronx and feels his current body mass will position him for success. Sabathia spoke about his weight to the Mark Feinsand of New York’s Daily News in a report released Sunday (h/t CBSSports.com’s Jason Butt):
I lost a bunch of weight drastically, pretty quick, two years ago, and was kind of off-balance. I didn’t know really how my body was working. … I feel like this is a good weight. I feel a little stronger. I feel my legs under me, being a lot stronger, and being able to push off the mound.
The 34-year-old former Cy Young Award winner checked into spring training last year at 275 pounds. This year, manager Joe Girardi told Feinsand he is “comfortable” with Sabathia’s added weight and just wants his usual ace to be healthy.
Sabathia’s weight loss in past years may have had a direct, negative impact on his performance.
The Boston Globe‘s Pete Abraham offered his take on the situation:
Sabathia added the poundage as he rehabbed a right knee injury that required season-ending surgery. In 2014, he made just eight starts, going 3-4 with a 5.28 ERA.
After reaching a career high in WAR at 7.5 in his 2011 campaign when he posted a 19-8 record, Sabathia sank to 0.3 in that category in 2013 and minus-0.6 in limited action in 2014.
The expectations are weighing on Sabathia, and he knows he has something to prove.
“Of course I do,” Sabathia told Feinsand. “Not being able to play last year, and performing horribly in 2013, I have a lot to prove. Try to help this staff and help this team get back to the playoffs.”
NFL.com’s Dan Hanzus was a bit skeptical and brought up a relevant point:
The Yankees have a lot to prove as a team. They have posted winning records but haven’t made the playoffs in the past two seasons, and it’s little coincidence that Sabathia’s production has been down in that span.
Starting pitching is paramount to MLB postseason success. Sabathia is the workhorse and the driving force New York has been needing. After a year in which the Yankees ranked 21st with 83 quality starts, it’s up to Sabathia to deal as he’s been accustomed to.
With counsel from former Yankees star Andy Pettitte, a body that feels better and a fresh start approaching, Sabathia may be on track to spark a Bronx Bombers renaissance. Based on his and his club’s recent body of work, though, it’s hardly certain a promising new era is on the horizon.
Advanced stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.
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