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.
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Reaching For the Top
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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.
Tampa Bay Rays' Evan Longoria, center, looks on with teammates during the ninth inning baseball action in Game 1 of the American League championship series in St. Petersburg, Fla., Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008. Boston defeated Tampa Bay 2-0. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 10: Pitcher Justin Masterson #63 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth inning of game one of the American League Championship Series during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Tropicana Field on October 10, 2008 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Red Sox defeated the Devil Rays 2-0 to take a 1-0 series lead. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Justin Masterson
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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 10: Carlos Pena #23 of the Tampa Bay Rays flies out in the eighth inning of game one of the American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Tropicana Field on October 10, 2008 in Tampa, Florida. The Red Sox defeated the Rays 2-0 to take a 1-0 series lead. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Carlos Pena
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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 10: Dustin Pedroia #15 of the Boston Red Sox scores a run on a double hit by Kevin Youkilis (not pictured) in game one of the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Tropicana Field on October 10, 2008 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Dustin Pedroia
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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 10: Kevin Youkilis #20 of the Boston Red Sox hits a RBI double against the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth inning of game one of the American League Championship Series during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Tropicana Field on October 10, 2008 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Kevin Youkilis
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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 10: Manager Terry Francona of the Boston Red Sox pulls starting pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka #18 in the seventh inning of game one of the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Tropicana Field on October 10, 2008 in St. Petersburg, Florida. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Daisuke Matsuzaka;Terry Francona
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The Boston Red Sox players react after defeating the Tampa Bay Rays 2-0 in Game 1 of the American League championship series in St. Petersburg, Fla., Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
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Boston Red Sox catcher Jason Varitek reacts after Tampa Bay Rays' Dioner Navarro struck out to end the game in the ninth inning baseball action in Game 1 of the American League championship series in St. Petersburg, Fla., Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008. Boston defeated Tampa Bay 2-0. (AP Photo/Mike Carlson)
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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 10: Pitcher Jonathan Papelbon #58 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch in the ninth inning of game one of the American League Championship Series against the Tampa Bay Rays during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Tropicana Field on October 10, 2008 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Red Sox defeated the Devil Rays 2-0 to take a 1-0 series lead. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Jonathan Papelbon
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ST. PETERSBURG, FL - OCTOBER 10: Pitcher Justin Masterson #63 of the Boston Red Sox delivers a pitch against the Tampa Bay Rays in the eighth inning of game one of the American League Championship Series during the 2008 MLB playoffs at Tropicana Field on October 10, 2008 in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Red Sox defeated the Devil Rays 2-0 to take a 1-0 series lead. (Photo by Doug Pensinger/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Justin Masterson
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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
Sabathia stunk in last year's playoffs. Cleveland should have been in the World Series, and if Sabathia hadn't pitched like a little girl they would have been. This jerk doesn't have a chance at the Cy Young for 2008.
I'M A HUGE iNDIANS FAN BUT HUTCH 0868 YOU'RE RIGHT. BECKETT SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE CY YOUNG LAST YEAR. I THINK IT WAS BASEBALLS WAY OF GETTING A PREMIER PITCHER OUT OF CLEVELAND. THEY JUST PRICED HIM OUT OF THE MARKET FOR THE INDIANS. BASEBALL NEEDS A TRUE SALARY CAP.
