New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia says an incident in August following a road game against the Toronto Blue Jays was a turning point on his road to sobriety.
“I was just out with some guys. I remember that. I wasn’t like obliterated or blasted, but I wasn’t sober CC,” Sabathia told the New York Daily News in an interview this week. “I would have just laughed that off or said something smart back. If I was sober, it wouldn’t have happened.”
Sabathia checked himself into an alcohol rehabilitation centre in early October, one day before his team was set to take on the Houston Astros in the AL wild card game.
The 35-year-old said he realized he had a drinking problem back in 2012 when he would go on benders.
“I would put two or three months together being sober, but I would get on the road and when nobody was looking, I would isolate myself and just start drinking,” Sabathia explained. “I figured I could get control of it. I would make rules for myself: ‘I’m only going to drink wine’ or ‘I’m only going to drink beer’ or ‘I’m only going to drink on the weekends.’ For me to be planning that out is an indication that I had a problem.”
Sabathia said he had gone into therapy in the past to deal with his addiction, but it wasn’t until the incident in Toronto that he thought he might need to enter rehab.
“I think Toronto was enough,” Sabathia said. “I didn’t get in trouble there or anything happened, but that type of [stuff] leading up to it, that can happen any time if I’m not sober. That was warning signs enough for me. Really at that time is when I felt like I needed it, but it was right in the middle of the season.”
Sabathia remained silent for another six weeks before finally making the decision that enough was enough. He met with Yankees manager Joe Girardi, pitching coach Larry Rothschild, athletic trainer Steve Donohue and the team’s director of mental conditioning Chad Bohling where he explained his situation. The meeting took place at Camden Yards as the Yankees were wrapping up the regular season against the Orioles.
“That day was probably the most humbling, humiliating, scariest day of my life,” Sabathia added. “Right now, it’s quickly turning into the proudest day of my life. Standing up and getting some help.”
Sabathia has been with the Yankees since 2009, where he has one World Series title and three All-Star appearances. The left-hander went 6-10 with a 4.73 ERA this year but a knee injury hampered his output. Sabathia is signed through next season and his deal includes a 2017 club option.
