Five Yankees Who Need A Good Spring Training

Apr 29, 2014; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees starting pitcher CC Sabathia (52) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Seattle Mariners at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

P- CC Sabathia

If the Yankees don’t have CC Sabathia in 2009 they don’t win that World Series. Period. Sabathia was an All-Star from 2010-2012. Then 2013 came and he struggled. Then last year came and he struggled and he got injured. He lost weight to get healthier, but all those years of pounding on that knee took it’s toll and now the 34-year old has something to prove.

Sabathia’s velocity is decreasing. That doesn’t mean he can’t adjust and do more with less. Plenty of pitchers have done that route in their careers. In 2011 he was at almost 94. Now he’s down to 89 per Fangraphs. You get guys out with that kind of velocity. Especially as a lefty. Just ask Tom Glavine.

Sabathia isn’t that number one guy anymore. That doesn’t mean you can’t win with him on the staff and it doesn’t mean he can’t be an effective pitcher.

CC has to come into spring showing he has fully recovered from his knee injury and ready to show that he can be a veteran leader on a staff with some young power arms. It was Andy Pettitte and Mariano Rivera being the veteran leaders on the staff. Now it’s CC’s turn.