“Just all location,” Sabathia said. “I’ve pitched with velo down before. It’s just a matter of me not making pitches. … I feel like I’m letting everybody down, not going out and making pitches I need to make and getting outs and pitching with a lead. We had a 2-0 lead (on Saturday) and I come right back and give it up. That’s not me. Hopefully I can correct this thing and go out and pitch well next time.”Letting everyone down is even an understatement with the way he's pitched recently. Since July 21st, when the Yankees were 57-37 and 7 games up on the O's in the division, Sabathia is just 3-2 with a 4.15 in 8 starts, and more importantly, the team is just 3-5 in those games. Which isn't the type of performance you want from your $23 million per year "Ace" down the stretch of a season. Not coincidentally, the Yankees have also falling 7 games in the standing since that point.
If the Yankees are going to hold on and win the division, or even make the playoffs, CC is going to have to start earning his salary.