Extra-large expectations: CC Sabathia tries to end playoff failures in Yankees opener

Extra-large expectations on Yankees ace Sabathia

NEW YORK — CC Sabathia was fantastic in his first regular season with the New York Yankees. Now, it’s time for him to earn that $161 million contract.

The big lefty will start New York’s playoff opener against the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday night, with the heavy weight of World Series expectations resting squarely on his thick shoulders. One of baseball’s most durable aces, Sabathia has struggled in the postseason, going 2-3 with a 7.92 ERA in five starts with Cleveland and Milwaukee.

“This is what you come here for, to get that opportunity to get to win a championship,” Sabathia said Tuesday after a workout at Yankee Stadium. “We had a great year so far. We just have to keep it going.”

Sabathia joined the Yankees as a free agent last December and signed a huge contract to match his 6-foot-7, 290-pound frame. His seven-year deal was part of a $423.5 million spending spree that also brought Mark Teixeira and A.J. Burnett to New York.

With those dollars come extra-large expectations — and plenty of pressure. Back in the playoffs after a one-year hiatus, Derek Jeter, Mariano Rivera and the Yankees are favorites to win their 27th World Series title and first since 2000.

It won’t be easy if Sabathia flops in October again.

“I’m definitely excited. But like, I said this earlier, the opening day with the new Yankee Stadium and me being the free agent and the games against Boston, there and in here, I think all of those moments have helped me to prepare and led me up to this moment,” Sabathia said. “Some of those games we played against Boston are like playoff games. That opening day probably felt like tomorrow night will. So I’ve had these experiences over the year, and I think I’m ready for it.”

The Twins, who won Tuesday night’s AL Central tiebreaker against Detroit 6-5 in 12 innings, will open the playoffs Wednesday in New York, the first postseason game at the new Yankee Stadium.

“I expect the fans to be ready to go,” Johnny Damon said.

Holding home-field advantage throughout the postseason, the AL East champions had the choice of starting Wednesday or Thursday at 6:07 p.m. EDT. New York picked to get going right away with a series that has an extra day off between Games 1 and 2.

The 29-year-old Sabathia helped the Yankees (103-59) build the best record in baseball this year. Stepping in smoothly at the top of the rotation, he went 19-8 to tie for the major league lead in wins. He also ranked fourth in the AL in ERA (3.37) and innings pitched (230).

The 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner had a chance to win 20 games for the first time, but he was roughed up for a season-high nine runs — five earned — and eight hits over 2 2-3 innings in his final start at Tampa Bay.

Still, the high-scoring Yankees are confident with Sabathia on the mound.

“I feel good about where CC is right now,” manager Joe Girardi said. “One of the things that we tried to do in the month of September is slow his innings down. We believe that’s going to be beneficial. Every time you go through the postseason as a player you learn something about yourself and ways to handle situations better.”

Alex Rodriguez is another Yankees star looking to put playoff failures behind him. Sabathia, however, has a simple explanation for his own postseason problems.

“I think maybe just trying to go out and do too much,” he said. “Trying to go out and throw shutouts and throw no-hitters and things like that instead of going out and doing the same things I’ve done during the regular season which is throwing strikes early in the count.”

Sabathia has allowed 22 walks and 33 hits in 25 postseason innings. He struggled in October the past two years after throwing 241 innings during the 2007 regular season and 253 in 2008.

This time, his workload was less taxing.

“It’s a good thing,” Sabathia said. “The last couple of times I had a week in between starts. It definitely helps just to get that mental break of being able to come to the field and relax for a couple of days.”

Now, the pressure is on.