CC Sabathia opens up about alcohol use, decision to enter rehab

(AP Photo/Chris O'Meara) New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia made one of the toughest decisions of his life a few months ago. Just days before the team was set to play in the American League wild card game, Sabathia announced that he was battling an alcohol addiction, and entered rehab.

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The news came as a shock for a number of reasons. Up until that point, Sabathia’s addiction had been private. No one knew he was struggling with alcohol. On top of that, the timing was interesting. If the Yankees made a deep playoff run, Sabathia would not be around to help the club.

In an article at The Players’ Tribune on Monday, the 35-year-old pitcher opens up about his addiction, and explains why he needed to enter a rehab facility despite the fact that the Yankees were in the playoffs.

Sabathia explains that if he put off entering rehab to remain with the club, he would not have gone.

Honestly, it would have been easier in a lot of ways if I had waited — I would have drawn much less attention to myself. But if I didn’t enter rehab right away, I knew I wouldn’t go through with it. With addictions, it takes so much effort to convince yourself to do something to fix the problem, but it’s very easy to talk yourself out of going through with it.

Of course, the timing wasn’t the best for the Yankees and the fans, but that wasn’t my main concern. When I decided to get help, I wasn’t scared anymore of what people would think of me. I was scared of drinking again. So many of the major choices in my life, going back to when I was just a kid, have been baseball decisions. But this was a life decision.

Sabathia then discusses having to go into manager Joe Girardi’s office and tell him about his decision to leave the club. Though Sabathia was worried, Girardi offered support to the pitcher, saying “We’re with you. 100 percent.”

Throughout the piece, Sabathia details his struggles with addiction. He first realized he had a problem in 2012, but was never serious about getting the help he needed. After entering rehab, Sabathia talks about his experience there.

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He reflects on his decision, and how he wishes he had made it sooner. Sabathia admits that there’s still a chance he’ll relapse, but he’s being public about his situation because he wants to be held accountable.

He wraps up the article by encouraging anyone battling alcohol addiction to get the help they need.

If you’re having trouble coming to grips with your own issues related to alcohol, I want you to understand that you’re not alone. This isn’t anything to be embarrassed about or ashamed of. It’s a disease. And there’s a support system out there to help you control it.