Watch CBS News

All Eyes On Sabathia As Yankees Try To Take Opening Series From Blue Jays

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork) -- Even though CC Sabathia appears to be healthy he has very few convinced he will be his old self this season.

Coming off a very shaky spring training, the big left-hander will make his first appearance on a major league mound since May 10 of last year when the Yankees take on the visiting Blue Jays on Thursday in the rubber game of their season-opening series.

Sabathia, 34, made just eight starts in 2014 due to a degenerative knee injury, going 3-4 with a career-high 5.28 ERA. The setback was a tough one for the 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner considering he was coming off a pedestrian 2013 season in which he went 14-13 with a 4.78 ERA and suffered an inexplicable loss of his trademark velocity.

"It really does feel like it's been a long time since I've been around the team and watched a game, a full game, the other day," Sabathia said. "So it's been a lot of fun and hopefully (Thursday) we can get it going."

Sabathia's velocity has returned a bit, but he had all kinds of issues with his command during his 10 spring training innings, pitching to an 8.10 ERA while allowing three home runs. Despite that, manager Joe Girardi said he was encouraged by what he saw.

"I'm happy with the stuff, and I think the consistency will come. I do," Girardi told the team's official website back on April 3. "I think you'll see a different guy. He hasn't pitched a lot. He's had to deal with a lot of injuries. The arm strength is much better than it's been. His knee has been good. So I'm encouraged."

Despite no longer being the ace of the staff, Sabathia, who is 208-119 with a 3.63 ERA entering his 15th season, is still viewed as a front-of-the-rotation arm. He said he's ready to quiet the naysayers who think he's nearing the end of what had been up until recent years a very productive career.

"I feel great. I feel like I'm just a couple of ticks away from where I want to be," Sabathia said.

The Yankees followed up their season-opening 6-1 loss to Toronto on Monday with a 4-3 victory on Wednesday, rallying for three runs in the eighth.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.