CC Sabathia Provides Vision For MLB Network Showcase: Clubhouse Edition

by DA Gambler | Apr 25, 2021 | THE LEAD OFF

An Athlete’s Take On The Modern Game

Do you ever wonder what the players discuss when they’re just chilling in the clubhouse watching other teams play? Or when they are at home in the offseason watching the playoffs. Or at the barbershop, or even the local bar?

Well, CC Sabathia is making history as a broadcaster today.  An articulate student of the game, CC has made appearances here and there on baseball and basketball telecasts, as he starred in both sports during a legendary High School career. His podcast game is crazy too. He’s one of the more expressive baseball players around. 

The CC you used to see on the mound or while doing public appearances,  is not the same CC you’d get if you were just chilling in the crib with him, watching the game. With that being said, now you can get the best of both worlds thanks to an ingenious idea that The Black Ace himself created. 

As MLB continues to find ways to engage fans, especially with COVID restrictions still in place across the league and limiting the number of fans that can attend games in most cities, Sabathia, a six-time MLB All-Star, will join former All-Star Carlos Peña, Hall of Famer John Smoltz and host Stephen Nelson in a non-traditional game telecast format for the New York Yankees against the Cleveland Indians this Sunday, April 25 at 1 p.m. ET from Progressive Field. 

“Whenever I watch games with my friends and former teammates, I always say that it would be cool if the cameras were rolling and people could listen to our different conversations,” said  CC Sabathia. “I’m excited to test this vision out for fans on MLB Network, especially with the game involving two organizations I’m incredibly familiar with.”

Called MLB Network Showcase: Clubhouse Edition, the goal is to share the organic conversations that take place among a group of former players as if they are watching a game from home. 

Nelson will navigate the conversation from a casual setup inside MLB Network’s Studio 21. Sunday’s telecast will mark the first time Sabathia contributes to a national baseball broadcast since his retirement in 2019.

This will be very interesting as CC is known to drop an F-bomb or three in casual and comfortable conversation, but  If MLB is trying to capture the essence of “baseball talk” then they have to accept everything that comes with it. 

Now, it was CC’s idea so I’m sure he’s prepared and has a certain direction he wants this unprecedented style of broadcast to go in, So he’ll probably be minding his jibs. 

“When CC and his team brought this idea to us, we were thrilled by the opportunity to work with him as his Hall of Fame resume and knowledge of the game speak for itself,” said MLB Network President Rob McGlarry. “Letting viewers in to listen to the natural conversations among our former players has been a hallmark of our studio shows, and we’re 

In collaboration with Sabathia and Ron Berkowitz, President of Berk Communications, Sunday will mark the first time MLB Network tests this game telecast format.

It’s lit to see CC, a Black player who rose up out of rough conditions to become one of the greatest pitchers of his generation,  continue to make such an impact on how the game is marketed to the younger generation.

He has the same energy in retirement that he had as a star player in The Big Apple. We need connected voices like CC who has also dedicated a large portion of his career to supporting youth initiatives involving education and providing resources for local baseball programs in his hometown of  Vallejo, California and his second home, the Bronx, NYC. 

Tune in.