Yankees Get Good News From Two Aces

It was a few days ago when Yankees’ fans, and the baseball world I might add, watched and waited with held breath as New York’s ace, Masahiro Tanaka, returned to the mound against the Toronto Blue Jays. It was the 25-year-old’s first start in a big league game since July after suffering a partial tear in his Ulnar Collateral Ligament (That’s the “Oh No! Tommy John Surgery” ligament if you didn’t know) and everyone knew they were taking a huge risk by sending him out there. But, Tanaka pulled through like he has done all year, and looked like himself out there, throwing 5 1/3 innings, allowing one run, on five hits, with four strikeouts. He was removed after reaching 70 pitches, which the team said would be his max. Tanaka’s start meant a lot to the Yankees, but it had nothing to do with this lost season. Instead the Yankees’ ace showed the team that they should have their number one in 2015. Elsewhere the club’s former ace, C.C. Sabathia threw a baseball for the first time in a while since undergoing a second stem cell injection in his degenerative knee. Sabathia said he felt good and him being healthy

May 10, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia (52) pitches in the first inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

could be a huge boost for the Yankees next season.

C.C. Sabathia will never be his old self again. The 34-year-old has fallen onto rough times the past two years, and he’s done more to hurt the team than help it. However there is a theory that Sabathia’s troubles, lack of velocity included, could be caused primarily because of his degenerative knee which can have a big effect on his motion and control. Sabathia’s problems are not small ones, but fixing up his knee will be a real boost for the former Cy Young Award winner.

As for Tanaka, his emergence in Major League Baseball was interrupted by a partial tear in his UCL, and many thought Tommy John Surgery was imminent. However, contrary to popular belief, the invasive surgery which requires a 12-18 month rehab, is actually the last resort for a pitcher, and the Yankees decided to take a chance and attempt to dodge surgery. While a lot remains to be seen, his return to the mound seems very promising. With a lot of uncertainty surrounding the Bombers’ 2015 rotation, these two arms will need to play a key part for the team to succeed. These recent steps have been a great start.