Two weeks ago, CC Sabathia felt chest pains. (It's amazing how those two words - "chest pain" - affect people in an emergency room.) He had such a procedure, and a stent was inserted. By all indications, he can expect a long and happy life - a miracle of modern medicine. But it's not over yet.
The Yankees say CC is expected to make "a full recovery," and that they are still slotting him in as the fifth starter. That's a nice public gesture to a beloved player. It's also bullshit. CC's entire outlook on life just changed. He might be able to pitch in 2019, but nothing will be quite the same. For one thing, he will be considerably more aware of aches and pains, especially around the chest. If he pulls a muscle, he will be terrified. Any tweaks, all the dings he used to disregard, he will think about them. He has entered a new world.
Make no mistake here: The Yankiverse just dodged a bullet. If CC had not reported the pains, or if he dismissed them - as I did, for weeks - we might have watched the unthinkable: A pitcher having a heart attack on the mound.
CC is 38. He is listed at 300 pounds. Last year, he threw 153 innings - third highest on the team, just three less than Masahiro Tanaka. He is a far cry from the pitcher of 2009, who led the Yankees to their last world championship. I certainly appreciate the Yankees extending him a vote of confidence, and we should all wish him well... but he should seriously consider retiring.
CC is only 38. He could be dead, or worse, a cardiac cripple, by the time he's inducted. This clarifies that other issues may be less important.
ReplyDeleteFuck out all.
Lucky they got the problem early...could have been worse if it was a heart attack.
ReplyDeleteBut now it's problematic...CC will need to lose weight to stay alive and the last time he lost weight, he wasn't effective on the mound.
Without the usual sarcasm, hope and prayers he lives a long life after this...
Thanks el duque for a very honest post I wish you good health and as is said in Scotland 'Lang may yer lum reek' Translation long may your chimney pour smoke.
ReplyDeleteI have nothing but respect for CC but I hope he retires now.
He has many years to watch his kids grow up and I do not want him to risk it all by playing baseball
Playing won't put him at risk. Exercise is a usual part of a cardiac rehabilitation program. If the artery was fully opened, there is no additional risk.
ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteI've had heart problems myself. I agree with what the Warbler said -- "there is no additional risk."
BUT: If I had Sabathia's money (assuming he didn't squander all of it) .....I'd walk away.
He can exercise in a place NOT a ballpark. He can do things that don't break your heart, such as giving up 3-run HRs.
The guy made $10,000,000 last year, and a news item claimed the Yankees gave him the $500K bonus (the one he did himself out of, technically). If they tax half of all that away, it leaves $5 million-plus.
Admittedly, I don't have a superstar's lifestyle. However, I get by on a pension and Social Security. I would bet Sabathia's not pitching for the $$$, anyway.
When the guy looks at himself in the mirror in a few weeks, he might just decide to walk away and NOT risk his life .....and go on to live to be 85.
I don't wish that for my usual NYY fan reasons. I do think it would be the best decision for a guy who, to all appearances, has been decent and good.
YESTERDAY I WAS SCOURING THE INTERNET AND FOUND A VIDEO OF OUR OWN "YES" ANNOUNCER RYAN RUOCCO TAKING C.C AROUND TO AS MANY PIZZERIA'S IN MANHATTAN IN SEARCH OF THE BEST PIZZA.
ReplyDeleteCC IS SHOWN EATING SLICE AFTER SLICE IN VARIOUS PIZZA PARLORS, AND THIS ALL LOOKS VERY RECENT.
A LESSON TO US ALL.
MODERATION.
The thing no one mentions or asks is; does he have a wife, a family, a serious girlfriend or boy toy?
ReplyDeleteIt is often the "serious other" person who demands a change in lifestyle, once a heart problem such as this has been evidenced.
If Brian Cashman is CC's serious " other," then he will likely pitch and continue to eat pizza.
If there is a Mrs. CC...or a tyke-like body double, he will seriously reconsider a lot of things.
In Duque's case, we forbade him to eat meatball heros and grilled onions before his usual helping of Mississippi mud pie.
But his beer intake was never put on watch.
As a result, and happily, he is today healthy as a banana.
But mark Duque's words; This is not like he just tweaked a calf muscle. He will be apprehensive for a while, as a professional athlete, where the physical demands are high.
How will he feel now when people keep bunting on him?
In other words, despite the positive assurances from the Yankee front office, this is not a positive development for the Yankees in 2019.
If CC is getting taxed at 50%, he needs a new accountant/finance guy and another estate planner.I'd bet he's taxed no higher than the upper teens.
ReplyDeleteI have a feeling CC's diet has always been bad even during childhood. Probably prone to excess eating and we know overindulgence in alcohol. I realize that he lost weight a few years ago but his diet was short-term only. He needs to have a lifestyle change regarding his food choices. Not an easy thing to do. For the first time in my life, several months ago, my doctor told me I had to lose weight....35 pounds. My diet is going very well. Only 40 pounds to go.
Might not matter anyway. Between the Yankees and the stock market I might stroke out.
ReplyDeleteI have to hand it to my finance guy. He told me years ago that if I invested with him he would "make me a small fortune". He was correct. Unfortunately for me, I started him with a large fortune.
Bada Bing!
Alphonso's point is a good one. This becomes a family matter.
ReplyDeleteIf it were me, I walk away except for one thing...
Since he has these weight/health issues while being a professional athlete if he retires the odds of him exercising at the same levels go down and his risk and his weight goes up.
Right now he is mandated to train, stretch, pitch etc. It's part of his routine. Left to his own devices... who is to say? Conversely, if he pitches thee stress levels go up.
Hobson's choice.
My opinion of CC the pitcher has gone back and forth a few times, but he is obviously one hell of a teammate and he seems like a great guy.
I hope whatever he decides ends up being for the best.
Doug K.
My mind contains a memory of CC talking about eating 7 boxes of Captain—or Cap’n in cereal box parlance—Crunch everyday. I believe this was during the initial media dalliance all those years ago. If I ate 7 boxes of Cap’n Crunch a day I’d have man-tits that scrape the sidewalk. I’d have to wash my privates with a rag tied to a stick. I’d have to take my in-home-nurse’s word for it that he did a thorough job wiping my ass after my daily diarhea episode, which I’m guessing would typically occur some time between Judge Judy and The Price’s Right. Sexual activity on a 7-box-a-day Cap’n Crunch diet? Well, if looking at myself in the dresser mirror and asking “are we really doing this?” before grinding my obese dick belly along the smooth wooden surface counts as sex, then, yes. The only thing I don’t know is what all that Cap’n Crunch would do to your heart. But I’m glad CC is on the mend all the same.
ReplyDeleteHERE'S THE LATEST...
ReplyDeleteVEGASINSIDERS.COM HAS GIANCARLO BULLSHIT THE FAVORITE TO WIN THE HOME RUN TITLE IN 2019 AT 7 TO 1.
CAN COOP USE THIS INFO AS TRADE FODDER?
WISHFUL THINKING.
Captain Crunch does have it's dangers but it is nowhere near some of the health consequences of other cereals.
ReplyDeleteFor example, my understanding is that excessive consumption of...
Cocoa Puffs leads to insanity.
Lucky Charms leads to episodes of extreme paranoia.
and Sugar Frosted Flakes creates a condition of excessive and unbridled optimism. After eating them a person is unable to distinguish the relative value of things leading to the possibility of placing one's self in dangerous circumstances while believing that is is not only OK to be there but Grrrrreat!
Doug K.
That was poetic, Bill White.
ReplyDeleteFrosted Flakes commercial starring guess who?............https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXPS_5hnafE
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MYIyZVIYGtY
Maybe corn flakes are better? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQYmqYC2sjY
If CC was being trained by Precious Paul Ellering, Ellering would be suggesting an exercise such as push aways...from the dinner table...
ReplyDeleteCarl,
ReplyDeleteThanks. Exactly my point.
Frosted Flakes leads to feelings of, shall we call it, invulnerability.
Doug K.
I think the Yanks' brass must crowd down on Frosted Flakes morning, noon, and night—now with Ibogaine!
ReplyDeleteDuque, glad to hear you are doing well. Very scary how quickly things can go wrong!
Nothing gets you through the ER door faster than "I'm having chest pain." It's amazing, the Open Sesame of medical care.
ReplyDeleteCC should retire, buy some Lululemon, get into yoga and brown rice. For his own sake and ours.
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