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MLB

Can CC Keep Shouldering Heavy Load?

Posted Oct 29, 2009 1:00AM By Ed Price (RSS feed)

Filed Under: Yankees, MLB Playoffs, World Series

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CC SabathiaNEW YORK -- With CC Sabathia's loss to the Phillies on Wednesday in Game 1 of the World Series, the Yankees will be at best up 2-games-to-1 going into Game 4.

Which probably means Sabathia will get that start.

And while the team won't yet commit to bringing back its ace on three days' rest, Sabathia has "no doubt" he can do it.

"I'm not saying we're going to," pitching coach Dave Eiland said, "but pitch-count-wise he's OK to do that."
FanHouse World Series Coverage: Mariotti | Moore | Fletcher
Game 1: Phillies 6, Yankees 1 | Box Score | Series Home

The pitch count in Game 1 was 113, which might normally be high enough to prohibit pitching just four days later.

Eiland pointed to the ALCS, where Sabathia threw 113 pitches in Game 1 and then dominated in Game 4 on short rest.

But the 113 pitches in the ALCS opener were fairly stress-free. They were spread over eight innings, with no more than 18 in any inning and more than 15 just twice.

In Wednesday's game, Sabathia threw 113 pitches in seven innings, with two 24-pitch innings and a 23-pitch inning.


"Physically he's fine," manager Joe Girardi said, "and as I said, we'll make that decision when the time comes. We're not going to rush to any decisions after one game, that's for sure. But physically I think he's good."

And probably a better option than Chad Gaudin.

Still, the track record of starters on short rest in the postseason is spotty, and not many have tried to do it after throwing 110 or more pitches. The last was Roger Clemens for Houston in the 2004 Division Series; he threw 117 pitches in Game 1 and then lasted five innings in Game 4, getting a no-decision (five innings, two runs).

Before that was Barry Zito, who threw 113 pitches for Oakland in Game 2 of its 2003 ALDS. Four days later he lost Game 5, allowing four runs in six innings.

Besides this year's ALCS, Sabathia has tried coming back short after throwing more than 108 pitches just once. He threw 122 for Milwaukee on the final day of the 2008 regular season and then got hammered in Game 2 of the National League Division Series.

"I can throw 113 or 133 or 140 [pitches]. It's all the same once you get up past a certain number."
-- CC Sabathia By the Phillies.

Sabathia wouldn't say whether he expects to get the nod in Game 4 of the World Series, leaving it up to Girardi.

"Like I've been saying all postseason," he said, "I've had enough rest [during the year] that I'll be able and be ready to pitch whenever they need me to.

"I pitched a lot on three days' rest last year and figured out that I can do it. And I'm pretty confident that I can go out and do it again."

If Sabathia goes in Game 4, the Yankees would gladly take the same pitching he had in Game 1. Sabathia allowed two runs, on two Chase Utley solo homers.

"Two mistakes beat him," Eiland said. "He wasn't at his best but was good enough to win."

Sabathia, however, was far from happy.

"Three walks," he said. "I was behind everybody. I wish I could stand here and say it was just two pitches, but I was behind pretty much the whole game. I was able to battle back and make some pitches when I needed to, but that's not at all how I've been pitching in the postseason."

Aside from Utley, the Phillies were 2-for-22 against Sabathia.

"It looked like he struggled with his control a little bit early," Ryan Howard said. "We went out and tried to work him the best we can. He pulled it together. He's not a Cy Young [winner] for nothing. He's not the type of pitcher he is for nothing. He pulled it together."

Which is why the Yankees have to consider starting Sabathia in Games 1, 4 and -- if needed -- 7.

In fact, they seem to be looking at using a three-man rotation, which no team has done in a World Series of more than four games since the 1992 Braves.

It seems like a bit of a risk, given the health histories of A.J. Burnett and Andy Pettitte.

But Sabathia is built for that kind of workload.

"I can throw 113 or 133 or 140," he said. "It's all the same once you get up past a certain number."
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