Sabathia all aces for Yanks, picked ALCS MVP

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(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-10-27 10:40

NEW YORK: CC Sabathia received a contract from the New York Yankees that matched his mountainous presence on the mound for one big reason: to lead them back to a World Series title.

And, boy, has he delivered so far.

Sabathia was picked MVP of the American League Championship Series after two dominant performances in the Yankees' six-game victory over the Los Angeles Angels.

"From Day 1 of spring training you could tell this was going to be a memorable year for us," Sabathia said.

The 6-foot-7, 290-pound lefty pitched eight innings of four-hit ball in cold, blustery conditions to win 4-1 in Game 1. He was equally overpowering in Game 4 in sunny Anaheim, giving up a run and five hits in eight innings - on three days' rest.

The Yankees wrapped up the ALCS with a 5-2 victory in Game 6 on Sunday night, meaning the 28-year-old Sabathia's next start will be a tantalizing one - he'll oppose former Cleveland teammate and Cy Young winner Cliff Lee when New York play Philadelphia on Wednesday night in the first World Series game at the new $1.5 billion Yankee Stadium.

Signed to a $161 million, seven-year deal as the linchpin of the Yankees' $423.5 million offseason push to return to the playoffs after missing out last year, Sabathia has brushed aside the pressure of the postseason from start No 1.

After tying for the major league lead with 19 wins, he shut down the Minnesota Twins in the opener of the division series and is 3-0 with a 1.19 ERA for the playoffs. The late success came after he'd gone 2-3 with a 7.92 ERA in five postseason starts with Cleveland and Milwaukee.

The durable ace has struck out 20 in 22 innings and opponents are hitting just .205 against him.

Usually all business on the mound in his baggy pants, Sabathia has shown emotion this October, especially in Game 1 against the Angels when he struck out pinch-hitter Mike Napoli to end the seventh inning.

Sabathia has been the ace the Yankees spent millions looking for since Andy Pettitte left for Houston and Roger Clemens temporarily retired after the 2003 season. Kevin Brown, Randy Johnson and Javier Vazquez all flopped in New York. And homegrown Chien-Ming Wang was a bust in the 2007 playoffs.

Sabathia slipped easily into the role, going 19-8 with a 3.37 ERA and 197 strikeouts in 230 innings, his lowest total since 2006. The Yankees went 22-12 in his starts and were 8-4 when he started after a loss. After the All-Star break he was 11-2.