After three straight injury-plagued seasons of increasingly declining pitching — and a couple of out-of-character off-the-field incidents this season — CC Sabathia has reportedly entered a rehab facility for alcohol abuse and will be missing the New York Yankees's first trip to the playoffs since 2012, reported the New York Daily News.
The one-time Yankees ace has checked himself into an alcohol rehab facility Monday, in what is a shocking development that comes one day before the Bombers open the playoffs against the Astros at the Stadium.
In a statement released by the team Monday Sabathia said:
"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 stregnth and has allowed me to move forward with this decision with a clear mind."
"As difficult as this decision is to share publicly, I don't want to run and hide. But for now please respect my family's need for privacy as we work through this challenge together.
"Being an adult means being accountable. Being a baseball player means that others look up to you. I want my kids - and others who may have become fans of mine over the years - to know that I am not too big of a man to ask for help. I want to hold my head up high, have a full heart and be the type of person again that I can be proud of. And that's exactly what I am going to do.
"I am looking forward to being out on the field with my team next season playing the game that brings me so much happiness."
Sabathia is expected to be in treatment for a month, a source told the News, which would keep him out of the Yankees’ playoff rotation for as long as the team plays this postseason.
Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said Monday that the team is supporting Sabathia fully as he enters rehab. He said that Sabathia called him around 1 p.m. Sunday and told him of his plan to seek treatment.
“It wasn’t a phone call I was expecting,” said Cashman. “Wasn’t expecting this type of press conference today.”
Sabathia ran into a bit of trouble during a Yankees road trip in August when TMZ released a video of the lefty involved in a street fight in Toronto.
The video shows the 6-7 Sabathia, wearing bright red shoes, yelling and pointing at someone before a few friends, who are holding him back, get him into a taxi cab.
He also found himself being accused of smoking a blunt when he was photographed lighting up a cigar on an Atlanta balcony this summer.
He also found himself being accused of smoking a blunt when he was photographed lighting up a cigar on an Atlanta balcony this summer.
Sabathia finished the season 6-10 with an ERA of 4.73 in 29 starts, including the final game against the Boston Red Sox when he threw five innings of one-run ball, helping the Yankees clinch their elusive Wild Card bid after losing the previous three attempts.
He has two years and $50 million remaining on the eight-year, $186 million contract he signed prior to the 2009 season.
He has two years and $50 million remaining on the eight-year, $186 million contract he signed prior to the 2009 season.
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