King of the Hill Plans to Keep Climbing
BY DAVE HOLLANDER,
AOL
Posted: 2008-03-28 12:29:16
C.C. Sabathia: Opening Day
Carsten Charles Sabathia Jr. is a three-time all-star and last year’s Cy Young award winner. Before he takes the mound for his sixth Opening Day start, the imposing left-hander for Cleveland discussed the joys of the internet, his political influence and his obligation to wear a Raiders jersey to a Browns game.
For Indians ace C.C. Sabathia, pitching on Opening Day never gets old. The A.L. Cy Young winner compares the honor favorably to pitching in other big games such as the league championship series.
DAVE HOLLANDER: When did the wearing-your-cap-sideways thing start?
C.C. SABATHIA: It started in high school. I began with another buddy of mine just to get under my high school coaches’ skin a little bit. It stuck from there. Now every time I put a hat on, that’s the way I wear it.
DH: Even if it’s, like, a fedora?
CCS: Any kind of hat with a bill, I put it on and I automatically do that. I’ll look in the mirror and I’m like “Ah, my hat’s crooked.” It’s just like that now.
DH: I read that your favorite baseball moment is hitting a home run in Cincinnati in 2005. You like to hit and you have a career .297 batting average. Are you jealous of Johan Santana -- that he gets to hit in the NL now?
CCS: I saw hit him a triple the other day! He can swing it a little bit. I’ll get a chance to hit during inter-league. I love to hit. Just makes you feel like you’re a part of the game.
DH: The beginning of last season, you called the lack of African-Americans in MLB a “crisis.” How much progress have you seen in a year?
CCS: I think we’re making a little bit of progress. I think just making people aware of it is the first thing we have to do. We had a meeting in November with about 35 Major League African-American players. We sat around and bounced ideas off each other, seeing what we can do as far as giving free camps and clinics in your hometown and trying to get as much outreach as possible in the community to try to get more kids to play.
DH: Last year you were the AL CY Young winner and Jimmy Rollins was NL MVP. You’re both African-American. How much does that help with awareness?
CCS: It definitely helped. I can’t speak for Jimmy, but for me, just going back to my hometown and with the kids around the neighborhood where I grew up -- they see you more. They all knew that I played baseball but seeing us make the playoffs and playing in some nationally televised games definitely helped.
DH: You’re starting Opening Day on Monday at Jacobs Field against the Chicago White Sox. How many Opening Days have you started?
CCS: I think this is my fifth.
DH: You’ve now pitched in many big games including the AL championship. How does the feeling of pitching Opening Day compare?
CCS: I think it’s the same. This is a big game. It’s a great honor, taking the ball for the organization and starting the season off. I’m happy I get a chance to do it.
Cleveland Indians' Cliff Lee pitches against the Chicago White Sox during the second inning of a baseball game Tuesday, July 1, 2008, in Chicago. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)
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The Minnesota Twins are in contention at midseason because of their reliable rotation which includes Glen Perkins, left, and Kevin Slowey, shown Wednesday, July 2, 2008 in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
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Houston Astros starting pitcher Brandon Backe reacts to giving up a two-run single to Los Angeles Dodgers' Blake Dewitt in the first inning in a baseball game Thursday, July 3, 2008 in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
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Los Angeles Dodgers' Blake DeWitt heads toward first base on a two-run single in the first inning against the Houston Astros in a baseball game Thursday, July 3, 2008 in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
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Los Angeles Dodgers' Andre Ethier breaks his bat on his way to a ground-out to the mound in the first inning against the Houston Astros in a baseball game Thursday, July 3, 2008 in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
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Los Angeles Dodgers Chad Billingsley delivers a pitch in the second inning against the Houston Astros in a baseball game Thursday, July 3, 2008 in Houston. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)
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Detroit Tigers pitcher Joel Zumaya pumps his fist after Minnesota Twins' Joe Mauer grounded out to end the game as the Tigers beat the Twins 5-4 in a baseball game on Monday, June 30, 2008, in Minneapolis. The Tigers' flame-thrower is back and, after a few false starts, seems to be heating up. For at least one pitch, the radar gun read 99 mph during Zumaya's 1-2-3 inning stint in Monday's win over the Minnesota Twins. It's a step in the right direction for the reliever who became one of the most popular athletes in Michigan by throwing triple-digit pitches. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
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San Francisco Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti is shown in the dugout before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in San Francisco, Wednesday, July 2, 2008. Friday July 4 marks the 25th anniversary since Righetti no-hit Boston for the Yankees in 1983.(AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
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San Francisco Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti is shown in the dugout before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in San Francisco, Wednesday, July 2, 2008. Friday July 4 marks the 25th anniversary since Righetti no-hit Boston for the Yankees in 1983. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
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San Francisco Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti is shown in the dugout before a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in San Francisco, Wednesday, July 2, 2008. Friday July 4 marks the 25th anniversary since Righetti no-hit Boston for the Yankees in 1983. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
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DH: You’ve gone from being the youngest player in MLB in 2001 to the Cy Young winner in 2007. Do you ever stop and think about that?
CCS: I haven’t really thought about it yet because I’m in the middle of it, the middle of my career. I’m worried about the next game, the next season, the next time I get the chance to take the ball. I’m definitely honored to be an African-American pitcher to win the Cy Young. There’s not many of them. I was excited to get that award but the ultimate goal is to win a World Series. That’s really what I’m trying to do every year.
DH: How different will it feel going out there as the defending CY Young winner?
CCS: I don’t think it’ll be that much different. Yeah, I’ll have a little target on my back. Guys are going to amped up to face me. So, I’ll have to bring my A-game.
DH: Speaking of a target on your back, five years ago you were robbed at gunpoint of $44,102 in cash and jewelry. Seems like every time you turn around, another athlete -- Sebastian Telfair, Eddy Curry, Antoine Walker -- is having the same experience. Why are athletes targeted?
CCS: I don’t know. With my case it was just being in the wrong placed at the wrong time. It’s a different situation for everybody. I don’t know what happened to those guys but it was just me being young and thinking you’re invincible and not really knowing your surroundings. That was a big part of it. For me, it was definitely a blessing in disguise because it made me change my life and turn it around and not try to be at every party or be seen all the time and just kind of hanging back and hanging with the family. So it helped me grow up.
DH: Things are getting more adult. In March you posted a statement on www.ccsabathia52.com that you were forgoing further contract negotiations with the Indians until after the 2008 season. How do like having your own website?
CCS: I think it’s pretty cool, man. When my PR lady Kathy Jacobson first pitched it to me I was like “Ahhh, ehhhh, I don’t know. Will we really get any hits?” But I think getting on there is good. I’m going to post some stuff during the season like my charity events. I’m also going to get an AAU team from my home county and post some of their stats and games on there.
DH: The internet’s a wild place. Last year a blog called examiner.com gave you 2000-1 odds to be the next mayor of San Francisco. You’re from the Bay Area, were those odds wrong?
CCS: I think I’d have a better chance of being the mayor of my home town, Vallejo, instead of San Francisco.
DH: Kevin Youklins also got 2000-1 odds. Metallica drummer Lars Ulrich came in at 1,000-1. But Dave Chapelle and Bud Selig tied at 10,000 – 1. Do you think these numbers are right?
CCS: I think they’re accurate. .
DH: Regarding politics, you’re supporting Barack Obama but did you know this week he was photographed in the Virgin Islands wearing a White Sox cap?
CCS: He’s an Illinois guy, you know. He’s out of Chicago. I can’t blame him for that. Hopefully we can get that changed. I mean, LeBron James was wearing a Yankees hat in Jacobs Field. So, nothing surprises me anymore.
DH: Really? You were okay with that?
CCS: It didn’t really bother me. He’s a basketball player. He has the right to like whoever he wants. If the Browns were playing the Raiders in Cleveland, I would be wearing a Raiders jersey ‘cause I’m a Raiders fan. But LeBron’s from Ohio. (pauses) I guess the team’s in the ‘90s weren’t good enough for him.
DH: Might be kind of funny if you showed up the a Cavs game wearing the opposing team’s jersey.
CCS: I told Drew Gooden that if Bulls, where he got traded, make it to playoffs -- which they won’t -- I’ll wear a Drew Gooden jersey to the Cavs game to settle the score.
DH: It’s a volatile world. Your actions could have more power than you know. If you beat Chicago on Opening Day, might that do some damage to the Obama campaign?
CCS: Nah, I don’t think so. I’m going to go out and try to do my best and beat them on Opening Day. Hopefully, Barack won’t be too disappointed.
Dave Hollander is the author of 52 WEEKS: Interviews with Champions! Info
at: www.davehollander.com
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