Sabathia, the anti-Unit

Two things I love about the 2009 Yankees are that they have a real first baseman, and that they have a real ace pitcher. Since the Clemens/Wells/Pettitte troika left after the 2003 season, the team has struggled to find adequate replacements for top-end performance. They tried in 2004 with Javy Vazquez and Kevin Brown, and then tried again in 2005 with Randy Johnson and Carl Pavano. Finally, in 2009 they have CC Sabathia and A.J. Burnett.

CC is about as far away from the last supposed ace, Randy Johnson, as one can possibly get. CC is approachable and affable. Randy welcomed himself to the city by shoving a cameraman. Reporters love talking to CC, but couldn’t get near Randy. The list goes on and on. YES Network’s Jon Lane notes the differences.

When Randy Johnson was here, you were strongly advised to stand at least 10 feet from him and his locker. Reporters would jokingly offer a cash reward if someone were to tap him on his shoulder and ask, “Hey, how’s it going?” Sabathia would actually respond, telling you that it’s all good. He’s that smooth. He’s the anti-Big Unit. Game 1 of the American League Championship Series is the best example to date. When Sabathia worked the count to 2-2 to Napoli, 49,688 people chanted “CC! CC!” in unison. It was the first time we’ve heard that from Yankees fans, and the first time in a long time the Yankees had the true definition of an ace on the mound working deep into October.

I suppose the crowd might have chanted for Randy had the Yankees gone deep into the playoffs and he pitched well. But we all know how Randy fared once the calendar flipped to October. Just another way that CC is the anti-Unit.