Yankees Must Do Everything Possible to Ensure CC Sabathia Hasn't Played His Last Game

The hearts of baseball fans around the country surely sank on Thursday when the New York Yankees confirmed their pitching rotation for their ALDS set against the Minnesota Twins.

Club legend CC Sabathia -- though the move was not unexpected -- was left off of the roster given that his health betrayed him once more in his final MLB campaign.

What makes the former Cy Young winner's exclusion all the more gut-wrenching was the selfless quote that he delivered upon finding out the news. What does this all tell us? That, if presented with the opportunity, the Yanks need to do everything within their power to make sure that Sabathia gets at least one run-out in October before he calls it a career.

Brett Gardner spoke on the unfortunate predicament that CC faces, and assured that he will do everything possible to ensure that the 39-year-old left-hander gets one last shining moment.

"Any time you have a guy like that, you want to send him out on top," Gardy told USA Today Sports. "He and I both have some unfinished business around here. The first year, me and him played together here in 2009, and winning the World Series, your plan is to make it back there and win it every year. Obviously, that hasn’t happened... So we’re going to do everything in our power not to just get him back there, but our team back there, and have fun.’’

We're not even asking for a World Series cameo, just one final start or multi-inning relief appearance for the big man.

Do Bronx buffs really want CC's final outing in pinstripes to be a relief appearance in a meaningless regular season game against the Rays with less than a week left to play before the playoffs?

Heck, any sane baseball fan should be kicking themselves just thinking about that possible reality.

For the sake of baseball and all that is good in the world, give Sabathia another go at it. He's more earned it.