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Yankees lefty CC Sabathia at peace as his career ends: 'I threw until I couldn't anymore'

NEW YORK — New York Yankees lefty CC Sabathia ended his career with one final mic drop.

Asked what he liked about being a starting pitcher, Sabathia responded that he liked to be in control.

“S--- don’t start ’til I’m ready,” Sabathia said at a news conference Friday after the team announced that the 39-year-old veteran had been removed from the American League Championship Series roster due to a subluxation of his left shoulder joint.

Sabathia, who was wearing a sling, suffered the injury when he got Houston Astros pinch-hitter Aledmys Diaz to pop-up for the second out of the eighth inning in Game 4 on Thursday night. He ended up throwing three more pitches to Houston center fielder George Springer — plus a warmup — with a partially separated shoulder before leaving the mound to a standing ovation.

Again, he was an absolute warrior until the end.

“It felt terrible,” Sabathia said.

He noted that he still needed to get an MRI, which would come after the Yankees returned from Houston. They will need to win Game 5 on Friday night at Yankee Stadium to get there.

Sabathia said it was fitting the way things ended. He was enjoying pitching out of the bullpen, and had thoughts about giving it another go in 2020.

Oct 17, 2019; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia (52) reacts as he is walked off the field by trainer Steve Donohue after suffering an apparent injury against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning of game four of the 2019 ALCS playoff baseball series at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 17, 2019; Bronx, NY, USA; New York Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia (52) reacts as he is walked off the field by trainer Steve Donohue after suffering an apparent injury against the Houston Astros during the eighth inning of game four of the 2019 ALCS playoff baseball series at Yankee Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

But the injury has taken that idea off the table.

Sabathia said he feels at peace. He plans to enjoy time with his family and doing his podcast.

A six-time All-Star, 2007 AL Cy Young award winner and 2009 World Series champion, Sabathia ends his 19-year career with 251 victories and 3,093 strikeouts.

“I threw until I couldn’t anymore,” Sabathia said.

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