TAMPA — Ron Gardenhire is in his first year as manager of the Tigers, but he spent 13 seasons at the helm in Minnesota, and he’s had a front-row seat to CC Sabathia’s transformation from fireballer to crafty lefty.
“That’s what really good pitchers do,” Gardenhire said after Sabathia had a solid outing against Detroit, giving up just one run in four innings in a 2-2 tie Tuesday at George M. Steinbrenner Field. “That’s how they hang around a long, long time. He can pitch. I hate it when he pitches against us because he’s tough.”
There had been doubts — as recently as last season — about how much longer opponents would talk about Sabathia like that.