It was a delicately hit ball, a bunt placed by Eduardo Nunez just in front of the pitcher’s mound in the first inning on Thursday. But for C. C. Sabathia, who came down off the hill to field it, the bunt came saddled with a gesture, one that seemed bold enough to awaken a bear in winter.
“I’m an old man,” said Sabathia, the 37-year-old Yankees pitcher who has needed a bulky knee brace and cortisone and lubricant shots just to make it to this point in the season. “They should want to go out and try to kick my butt.