CC Sabathia, who finished a 28-day rehab program in New Canaan, CT last week, has broken the silence on his drinking problem.
According to an interview given by Sabathia to Mark Feinsand of the Daily News, he knew ever since the end of the 2012 season that he was an alcoholic. His heavy drinking usually occurred when he was alone, in the privacy of his hotel room. Sabathia said he knew he had a serious problem when he realized he was planning ahead on when he could and couldn’t drink. Sabathia also appeared on “Good Morning America” Friday morning in an interview with Robin Roberts.
Sabathia woke up on the last day of the regular season hungover, and decided that enough was enough. In a meeting with Joe Girardi and the training staff in the manager’s office at Camden Yards, CC came clean and said that he wanted help.
In the interview with Feinsand, Sabathia stated, “I just felt like it was a big weight off my shoulders by telling somebody and letting the team know.”
Sabathia felt like it was better for everyone involved that he get the help he needed, even if it came at a bad time in the season when the Yankees were preparing for their AL Wild Card game against the Astros. Sabathia said that if he didn’t go right then and put it off, he’d never go at all.
In his last five starts after coming off of the DL September 9th, he was 2-1 with a 2.17 ERA, using a knee brace to help stabilize his knee. Sabathia admitted to gaining weight while in rehab because the “food was unbelievable,” but said he expects to be back with the team in Spring Training in good shape, ready to help the team win.
On the day he went to check himself into rehab, he said it was “probably the most humbling, humiliating, scariest day of my life,” but he knew it would be for his own good. Sabathia went on to say “It’s quickly turning into the proudest day of my life; standing up and getting some help.”
The Yankees continue to support their left-handed starter, as this is something more than the game and deals with something beyond the game of baseball.
CC Sabathia opened up this week about his alcohol problem and what drove him to rehab on the eve of the playoffs. https://t.co/asEwXxZEQE
— Mark Feinsand (@FeinsandNYDN) November 6, 2015
