Sabathia says 'no other option' but alcohol treatment

Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia says he had ''no other option'' than to leave the team for treatment for alcoholism ahead of its loss to Houston in the one-game AL wild-card playoff.

In his first remarks to media since seeking treatment, Sabathia told ABC ''it was just the time.''

An excerpt from the interview was posted Thursday on ABC's website. The network says the interview will be broadcast Friday on ''Good Morning America.''

''I know it was a bad time of the season, but there was no other option for me but to get help,'' Sabathia said. ''And I understand where, you know, fans would be upset and people don't understand, but it's a disease. And if it was my knee or it was anything else, then people wouldn't have a problem with it, but, you know, it being alcoholism, it's tough for people to swallow. But it's the same thing.''

The 35-year-old left-hander was 6-10 with a 4.73 ERA this season, slowed by a chronic knee injury.