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NEW YORK – The same day of October, while Derek Jeter enjoyed one of the most memorable plays in his playoff history, he was heading to the base line of the county's Coliseum. Oakland-Alameda and kick-start to receiver Jorge Posada, CC Sabathia – about 2,500 km – began his playoff career for the Cleveland Indians.
Sabathia still remembers this match of October 13, 2001, as if it had just happened.
Brock Holt became the first player in the history of the major leagues to play in the cycle during a playoff game in the rout of the Yankees of the Red Sox on Monday night.
The Yankees starting pitcher, Luis Severino, said that he had attended his normal warm-up before the match and that he was adequately prepared for the third game of the ALDS series against Monday's Red Sox evening, refuting the claims of broadcaster Ron Darling.
From the Wild Cards round to the World Series, we'll be covering the 2018 playoffs.
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"I really remember being nervous," recalls this week the 38-year-old New York Yankees left-handed, laughing.
Perhaps he will have good memories of his next playoff debut in many years.
For the 24th time in the playoffs, Sabathia will receive the ball on Tuesday. This time, his Yankees are trying to straighten their boat after losing 16-1 to rival Boston Red Sox. Down 2-1 in their division series of the American League, the Yankees are in victory mode. Lose, and they are eliminated.
"I know CC as well as anyone," veteran Yankees veteran Brett Gardner said. "I have the greatest confidence in the fact that he will go out and give us a chance to win.
"There is probably no better person than I would like to have in a game to win absolutely."
Gardner is not the only one hoping to have Sabathia on the mound for such a crucial match. The lefty husky also takes advantage of the opportunity.
"Yes, I'm excited for these games, that's certain," Sabathia said. "Just try to stay balanced and get out and throw as best as I can."
Regarding the elimination matches, Sabathia had the best result, but it could be better.
In five playoff seasons, Sabathia is 2-2 with a 3.76 ERA. His teams went 3-2 in these games.
Although Sabathia may not always have been extremely strong in these competitions, he has always had his share of good performances in the playoffs. Since 2009, he has made a 3.29 ERA in the playoffs. At the same time, his effective rate of return for the regular season is 3.74.
After allowing at least four earned runs in three of his first five starts in the playoffs, Sabathia has allowed as many points in just three of his last 18 starts in the playoffs.
He thinks that while he's working on Boston's dangerous lineup, he can rely on some of his recent successes in the playoffs.
"I can slow down the game," Sabathia said, citing how he controlled his emotions in the final stages of his career. "It's all the same now, no game is bigger than another, so it helps that way, and I've often been in those situations."
The ability to slow down these situations did not come naturally or easily at first. It came after Sabathia learned to live a playoff atmosphere.
He can thank a Hall of Fame center player for helping him out.
Sabathia was so out of sync with her catcher, Einar Diaz, in the first leg of her playoff debut, that the signs were not relayed between the two for much of the rest of the game.
"I was everywhere," recalls Sabathia.
Indeed, this first run against one of the most powerful crimes of the last 25 years – the Seattle Mariners in 2001 – was a challenge.
Ichiro Suzuki started the day by selecting Sabathia, a 21-year-old rookie. Mike Cameron followed with a quick double. After Sabathia eliminated Bret Boone, the brother of his current manager and former teammate Aaron Boone, he intentionally took Edgar Martinez to charge the bases.
From there, he ran running and seemed lost.
"Robbie Alomar came to me by canoe after the second run and said," Do not leave Einar anymore for the rest of the game. I call the pitchers from the second goal, "said Sabathia." He called the pitches from second base and gave them to Einar, and that's what I threw him. "
It worked. Cleveland ended up winning 17-2.
"So it was a good night," Sabathia said.
On the west coast, the Yankees led by Jeter also had a good night, thus avoiding the elimination. Down from 0-2 in the third game of their ALDS, the 2001 Bronx Bombers rallied to take the series and then qualified for the World Series.
Maybe this time, it will be the graying Sabathia, now at the pin, that will push this desperate version of the Yankees to a return to series.
"We will be happy to give him the ball," said Aaron Boone. "We think CC is physically in a good position right now and we are off to a great start at the end of the year.
The last time, Sabathia scored a non-hitter in the sixth inning at Tampa Bay before hitting a batter in retaliation for the header of his receiver being thrown in the half-inning. Sabathia was eventually ejected for the retaliatory movement, interrupting a magisterial exit.
He had started well enough to eventually finish the match. If the opportunity arose Tuesday, Sabathia would accept it.
"When I start the game, I start the game to finish the game," Sabathia said. "Obviously, this does not happen very often for me, but I mean, I want to run as long as I can and as deep as I can in the game."
The Yankees could use a deep and memorable performance. Their season could depend on it.
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