Hey big man,
I owe you an apology. I haven’t been the best fan to you, and you have opened my eyes as of late. When you were struggling in 2013 I started thinking that you lost it. You didn’t have what it took to compete at this level anymore. Your fastball had diminished, you just weren’t the overpowering pitcher that dominated from 2009-2012. You had a few stints on the DL, and I just wanted the Yankees to eat your ridiculously high contract. Then when it looked like that wasn’t going to happen I was hoping they would at least put you in the bullpen. But lately, oh man do I have egg on my face. You went the way of Andy Pettitte and Mike Mussina and compensated for your diminished fastball. You became a strategic, smarter pitcher. You work the hitters and it has been beautiful to watch.
You were untouchable from 2009-2012, going 74-29 with a 3.22 ERA. You were integral in the ’09 championship, and won over every single Yankee fan. But when you fell off from 2013-2015, going 23-27 with a 4.81 ERA, you weren’t ready to throw in the towel like I was. You’re a competitor, plain a simple. You want to be out there in the trenches, you want the pressure. You’re probably a little too busy dominating to keep up on your numbers, but I got you man. In May, you went 2-2 with a 1.04 ERA, 25 strikeouts and five walks in 26 innings. You came back from the DL with a vengeance, and had the lowest May ERA of your 16 year career. No seriously, I checked every single year. Your next lowest was 1.20 back in 2006. And those 2 losses you took last month, I don’t hold those against you. Your offense didn’t repay your efforts and couldn’t get enough runs across, so to me you went 4-0. You kept the team in the game every one of those outings, they just didn’t step up.
And it’s not just your on the field heroics that has made me give pause, it’s your off the field heroics as well. At the end of 2015, you did the hardest thing a man could ever do. You admitted you had a problem and got yourself help. It’s not easy for any man to admit when they need help, let alone a fierce competitor like yourself. But you did it. Bravo sir. Not only did you take that hard first step, but you opened yourself up to us fans when you wrote that moving piece on Players Tribune. I remember when I saw the tweet from PT with your article embedded. My eyes were fixed to the screen, my mouth agape. It’s not often I read something so raw and moving that makes me look inward. It made me think, what kind of man am I? Am I the best man I can be for my family and loved ones?
We can be cruel and unforgiving as Yankee fans. We only want to win, and if you’re impeding us from doing that we will turn on you at the drop of a hat. We did that with you, and you didn’t deserve it. We forget that you guys are human beings. You have done everything for this team, and then some. I know I speak for a lot of fans when I say, I’m sorry. It has been a thrill and an honor to watch you pitch, not only this last month but ever since you first donned the pinstripes. I’m honored to call you my pitcher. I leave you with probably my all time favorite CC Yankee moment (below.) Thank you big man, for everything.
-RJ
