On the way to the pitcher's mound, Sabathia's gaze kept scanning the stands, among them were even some faces he recognized, though they'd grown considerably older over the years.
For the Yankees, today's Progress Field was undoubtedly a devilish home field akin to a lair; but for Sabathia, it was also his other home.
Here, he grew from a boy to a man, from an invaluable young player to a Cy Young-caliber pitcher, the Cleveland pitcher's mound carrying the marks of his youth and his journey.
This was his first return to Progress Field for a playoff game since 2008, and this game would decide the fate of the two teams; considering his contract with the Yankees would expire at the end of the season, this game might even be his last wearing Yankees pinstripes.
Although his velocity had decreased over the years and due to knee injuries, nowadays Sabathia had shaken off past control instability, and his experience was undoubtedly a valuable asset.
