Beating Sabathia

We can beat CC Sabathia. We've done it before. He's a very good pitcher, but sometimes he has an "off" day. We can beat him when he's "on", too. We've done it before. Why we didn't do it last night is a mystery for the ages.

How do you beat CC Sabathia when he's got his best stuff?

Fire up his legendary temper, that's how. Piss Sabathia off and he ceases to be a pitcher and becomes a big man throwing a ball, nothing more. Sure, he'll plunk a guy or two on his way out of the game, but with how antsy the umpires are in these Minnesota/Cleveland series, one should be enough to get him ejected. And even if he can restrain what has often appeared to be an irresistable urge to bean batters when he's feeling grumpy, his lack of finesse and control when riled will result in enough runs to see him leave the game early.

How do you piss CC Sabathia off?

Make him field his position. Make him run, make him hurry, make him move. Infield hits, boys and girls. Bunts, taps, squibs. The occasional bat "accidentally" slipping free of the batter's grip and whizzing in the mound's general direction doesn't hurt, either. Put some body armor on your best players and don't let much leave the infield until CC is good and furious.

This man has an Achilles' heel larger than his inflated head. Why the Twins don't use it anymore (they used to!) baffles me.