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CC Sabathia Says Yankees Must Do More to Prepare Young Players for Pinstripe Pressure
ReCC Sabathia Says Yankees Must Do More to Prepare Young Players for Pinstripe Pressure
Hall of Famer CC Sabathia said the New York Yankees need to better insulate young players from the intense expectations of playing in the Bronx, pointing to Anthony Volpe's uneven career and the struggles of past prospects as evidence that the market's demands can overwhelm talent.
Hall of Fame left-hander CC Sabathia believes the New York Yankees are not doing enough to help young players cope with the unique pressures of wearing pinstripes, arguing that the organization should find ways to ease prospects into an environment where anything short of a World Series title is treated as failure.
Speaking at his PitCCh In Foundation's 6th Annual Golf Classic at Alpine Country Club, Sabathia pointed to shortstop Anthony Volpe's rollercoaster career as the latest example of a young player absorbing cheers and criticism in rapid succession. Volpe, a former first-round pick now in his fourth season, has shown flashes of the talent that made him a highly touted prospect but has yet to find consistent production at the major league level.
«It's hard to watch, right?» Sabathia said. «Because he's from here, he wants to do well. And I just watched so many young players for the Yankees, whether it's Gary Sanchez, whether it was Miguel Andujar, whoever it is, you get a label and that's what it is, which sucks especially for a young player.»
Sabathia, whose No. 52 is set to be retired on Sept. 26, recalled that even he felt intimidated by the weight of the pinstripes when he became a free agent in 2009. He eventually signed with New York and became a beloved figure, winning the World Series in his first season and helping the franchise capture its 27th title. But he said the experience is not for everybody, and the Yankees have a responsibility to prepare young players for the emotional swings that come with the market.
«I feel like the only young player that came in and did well was [Aaron] Judge because he hit 50 homers and everybody was off his back,» Sabathia said. «So, it's hard to build up equity with the fan base when you're so young.»
He also cited rookie George Lombard Jr., who committed six errors in a recent stretch and immediately began hearing grumblings from fans and media. For Sabathia, that pattern illustrates a broader organizational shortcoming. «I think the Yankees need to do a better job to insulating these guys and helping them understand what it is to put on the pinstripes,» he said. «There's going to be ups and downs, you gotta cancel out the noise and go out and play baseball every single day.»
The challenge is magnified in New York, where championships are expected in every sport each season. Volpe's inconsistency has kept fans guessing, even as his perseverance and determination have impressed Sabathia. «You think about Volpe's perseverance and determination — what else is he going to do? He's not going to quit,» Sabathia said. «This is what he wanted to do his whole life. He wanted to play baseball his whole life, and he's been in tough situations. Baseball is a hard game, but I think he'll be better for sure, whether he's playing second base, whether he's playing shortstop in the Bronx or somewhere else.»
Sabathia spent 19 years in the major leagues, breaking in with the Cleveland Indians in 2001 as a 20-year-old and later pitching for the Milwaukee Brewers before arriving in New York. He said the pressure he felt in Cleveland and Milwaukee was real, but nothing compared to what awaits players in the Bronx. «This is the only place it happens. If you think about anywhere else, it doesn't happen anywhere else,» he said. «You think about what Roman Anthony is going through in Boston. If that was here in New York, it would be leading Sportscenter every single day. It's a different beast when you put on the pinstripes.»
Sabathia hopes this season can end with the Yankees hoisting their 28th World Series trophy, which would prevent his 2009 squad from remaining the last New York team to win it all. The Yankees have clinched another postseason berth, but the pressure to deliver a title — and the scrutiny that comes with every slump — will continue to test the young players Sabathia believes need more support.
