Earlier this week, Yankees erstwhile ace CC Sabathia checked himself into an alcohol rehab center, taking himself out of the postseason roster picture. "It hurts me deeply to do this now, but I owe it to myself and to my family to get myself right. I want to take control of my disease, and I want to be a better man, father and player," he said in a statement.Reports have now surfaced indicating a weekend of heavy drinking in Baltimore led to Sabathia checking into rehab. 
The Yankees finished the season with three games on the road against the Orioles, and Sabathia was not scheduled to pitch. Emily Smith, Danika Fears and Frank Rosario of the New York Post has some details:
The Yankees finished the season with three games on the road against the Orioles, and Sabathia was not scheduled to pitch. Emily Smith, Danika Fears and Frank Rosario of the New York Post has some details:
The last straw for Sabathia came during the team's final regular-season series in Baltimore, where he spent most of his time pounding drinks at a hotel, the source said. ... By Friday, the pitcher looked “out of it” as the team waited around Baltimore's Camden Yards to play a game that was eventually rained out. “He drank every day last week apart from the day he pitched,” the source said. “The tipping point was Friday when he was at the stadium. He carried on drinking Saturday.”According to Wallace Matthews of ESPN New York, Sabathia's drinking even spilled over into the team's clubhouse at some point last weekend as well.
After the Yankees' game with the Baltimore Orioles was rained out on Friday afternoon, Sabathia was seen by reporters walking unsteadily as he left the Yankees' clubhouse. The normally affable pitcher also failed to respond to the greetings of reporters who have known him for a long time. A short time later, an onlooker noticed Sabathia offering a paper cup containing a brown liquid to a teammate who was finishing up a workout, urging the teammate to "take a sip." The teammate refused, saying he still had some running to do. Sabathia was then ushered out of the building and into a waiting cab by a third teammate."I know players have drinks; that happens in the game. Adults have drinks," said manager Joe Girardi on Monday, after it was announced Sabathia was going to rehab. "But I was not aware that it was at that level."Clearly, Sabathia's drinking problem had become severe. It's impossible to know how long it was going on or if there were any specific incidents that led to him going to rehab, such as an ultimatum from his family.Either way, the most important thing is Sabathia is getting the help he needs and has a strong support group. Addiction is brutal. Being a ballplayer doesn't make Sabathia any less vulnerable.Mike Axisa/CBS Sports
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
