A Site To CC

Whatever the problem was Monday, CC Sabathia made it easy forget about that awful Opening Day start.

Sabathia showed Saturday why the Yankees were so eager to give him a seven-year, $161 million contract in the offseason, dominating the Royals with 7-2/3 shutout innings in a 6-1 victory in Kansas City, Mo.



Sabathia (1-1) allowed six hits and no walks, lowering his ERA from 12.48 to 4.50. He threw 73 of 108 pitches for strikes and he struck out six -- his whiff of Coco Crisp leading off the game was his first of the season.

The only inning he ran into real trouble was the fifth, when Cody Ransom's throwing error on a potential double play ball put runners of first and second with one out. Sabathia got a flyout and ground out to escape the inning, but needed 24 pitches to do so.

This performance was in stark contrast to Opening Day when he just could not control his fastball, pitching 4-1/3 innings and allowing six runs on eight his and five walks.

More importantly, Sabathia's outing allowed the Yankees to rest their bullpen. With Joba Chamberlain making his season debut today, the Yankees can't be expecting six innings from him.

But when Sabathia performs like the stud that he is, the Yanks can afford a five-inning start from the No. 5 guy.

The Good
Mark Teixeira was forced to miss the game because of a sore wrist and the offense did not miss a beat. Nick Swisher filled in at first and assumed Teixeira's spot in the lineup. All Swisher did was go 2-for-3 with a triple, homer, three runs and three RBI. In 13 at-bats this season, he has nine RBI. Joe Girardi has to keep this guy's bat in the lineup. It's simply too good. He takes his at-bats deep into counts, makes contact, produces and provides a spark.

Jorge Posada also came up with clutch hits, two in fact. He had a two-out, two-run double in the first and and two-out, RBI double in the third as the Yankees built a 4-0 lead. He's hitting .313 and six RBI. ... Derek Jeter broke an 0-for-9 skid with a single leading off the two-run third. ... Hideki Matsui got his first hit since his Opening Day homer, a double in the fifth. ... Xavier Nady went 2-for-4.

The Bad
The bullpen's scoreless streak ended at 10-2/3 innings when Jose Veras allowed a run in the ninth. Veras' night was not bad, he pitched 1-1/3 inning allowing a hit and a walk. ... Ransom went 0-for-4 dropping his average to .056. His error, a lazy flip to second that sailed high, was the Yankees' first of the season, making them the last team in majors to commit an error. Kat O'Brien of Newsday reports that Girardi wants to get Ramiro Pena a start, but is not sure when. I think today would be a great day for Pena's first start. Ransom needs to step back and regain his bearings. ... Robinson Cano went 0-for-4 -- Can't get a hit in 'em all. ... Matsui failed to bring in Swisher from third in the third inning with one out. He was bailed out Posada's second double. ... Teixeira's wrist injury is not believed to serious, but he can't swing right-handed right now.

What We Learned
It doesn't take much to throw off a pitcher. Sabathia said he made one slight adjustment between starts: he made an effort to get his right, plant foot down quicker. The results speak for themselves.

Hey Dave...
An update on the bidding for the two Bernard Madoff tickets at the Mets' Citi Field Opening Day Monday. The top bid as of 10:50 p.m. was at $3,300. The bidding closes at 9 a.m. Sunday.

Runners On This With Less Than Two Out
Saturday
Two opportunities
1-for-2, 3B, R, RBI
Season
Nine opportunities
2-for-9, 3B, SF, 4 RBI, 6 R

Sunday's Game
Chamberlain vs. Gil Meche (0-0, 1.29 ERA), 2:10 p.m., YES

Joba had a rough offseason because of his DUI arrest. A good start today will go a long way toward helping him and the fans move past that.