WHY CC WILL OPT-OUT IF IGNORED BY JOE

"We have to get into the playoffs before I can adjust anyone's schedule. I'm not making assumptions because we all know what happens when you make assumptions.'' --Joe Girardi told ESPN

(Photo: Getty)
There is something very wrong with that statement from Joe Girardi. Waiting too long to adjust CC Sabathia who is currently messed up going on an extra days rest will ultimately destroy our ace, and possibly end our Yankees season early. There is no doubt in my mind that CC Sabathia leaves the New York Yankees at the end of this season if he is continually ignored and is used in a 6 man rotation, that's the bottom line. Why should our ace, a guy that has pitched 3 magnificent seasons with the Yankees, compiled 59 wins and has kept his ERA at 3.16 with 610 strikeouts in pinstripes be second fiddle to a rotation dilemma that is out of control. Don't know what I mean? Let me explain.

CC Sabathia likes pitching on short rest, or REGULAR rest. CC Sabathia has delivered for this ball club in some huge games since 2009, but one thing that has happened as of late is the 6 man rotation has messed with the big guy. If you don't see that, you're not watching close enough. In his last 8 starts, CC has won just 3 games. In that time frame, we've had a 6 man rotation.
I have stated here before that if Joe Girardi sacrifices his best pitcher, so the Yankees can try and figure out what to do with AJ Burnett and Bartolo Colon, there is no doubt in my mind that CC Sabathia leaves New York at the end of the year. We've invested too much time on what the others have to offer and ignored the 1 guy who's really delivered. That's unfortunate.

Look, CC Sabathia is our ace. CC Sabathia deserves respect, not only was he huge for us in 2009, he's been huge for us for 3 years. The Yankees decision to go t o a 6 man rotation would have been fine if it was temporary, but it is clear that the Yankees want to take this system to the playoffs, and that worries me. We are hurting CC so the other starters can catch up. It's selfish and wrong. The Yankees must make a rotation decision now and analyze all the information they have up to this point on our guys in the rotation. We need to cut the rotation to 5 and let's get CC back on track, A.S.A.M.F.P. Bottom line, if CC doesn't pitch well, what are the chances we get anywhere this post season...IF we make it at all?Wally Matthews of ESPN breaks down the options brilliantly:

"Option A: Girardi can pitch Sabathia on a customary every-five-days schedule the rest of the way -- in one of the doubleheader games against the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday at Yankee Stadium and again Monday as the Yankees kick off their final series of the season in Tampa Bay.

That would mean either Sabathia would kick off the ALDS on Sept. 30 on short rest or the Yankees would have to hold back their ace until Game 2 on Oct. 1.

That hardly seems like a sensible solution.

Option B: Girardi can pitch Sabathia on Wednesday and then not pitch him again the rest of the regular season, meaning he would open the ALDS on a whopping nine days of rest. As the manager likes to say, "Not ideal.''

Or Option C: You pitch Sabathia on Wednesday and then use him again in another game, maybe Monday, for an inning or two, to keep him sharp -- sort of a side session within a game. This is an option that can be used only if the Yankees' position at the top of the AL East is secure, a situation Friday night's loss did nothing to help, since the Red Sox beat the Rays to once again pull within 3 1/2 games of the division leaders."

Makes sense and you have to think that without this guy right, it's going to be damn hard to win anything, never mind the Quest for 28.

Now, one thing I don't agree with is CC is out of gas. He's not. I think he's got a confidence block that stems from his voice not being heard. Sure, CC's a gamer, but CC needs his own rhythm and God Dammit, we need to give it to him. CC's never bitched about it because he's a stand up guy, but he's tried to tell the club what works best for him and that's fallen on deaf ears. If the Yankees take too long trying to fix AJ Burnett, we will end up with nothing but our dick in our hand at the end of the season, and CC Sabathia in a Phillies uniform in 2012. Don't believe me? OK... let's talk in December. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it.

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