CC Newest Yankee Accepting Next Man Up Mentality

The New York Yankees have been affected by major play injuries throughout the season, and have been absolutely resilient. During Joe Girardi's tenure as the Yankees manager, he has instilled the next man up philosophy throughout the organization. When the announcement came out about the Yankees ace Masahiro Tanaka, many fans, and probably Yankees thought to themselves we just can't catch a break. The Yankees are 2.5 game in the AL East to the Toronto Blue Jays, and in the last month they've lost Mark Teixeira, Nathan Eovaldi, and now Masahiro Tanaka. It's okay though, because something I thought I would never say again is happening-- CC Sabathia is pitching fantastic.

I'm not saying this is 2009 Sabathia, just throwing flames, but he has certainly turned a corner from where he was in the middle of June. Sunday night  he looked like the old man that just comes off the bench during a beer league, and shuts everyone down. He was wearing a new knee brace but flashing his best stuff. While this was Sabathia's first victory since July 8th ( went on DL Aug 28th with knee injury), he looked good in his last three starts.

"I think if anybody knows me, it hurts me more to let the team down than for myself," Sabathia (5-9) said. "To be able to help the team out and try to get wins, just to be healthy enough, first of all, and to be able to go out and do it, it feels good. And at this stage of my career, having a chance to go back to the playoffs, its huge."

The Yankees start a three game road series against the Blue Jays on Monday, and at this point every game is a big game.