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Sabathia

Ichiro becomes the first Japanese-born player headed to Cooperstown and fell just one ballot shy of being a unanimous selection with 99.7 percent of the vote. The Mariners icon wrapped up a legendary 19-year career with 3,089 hits, which doesn’t include his additional 1,278 hits overseas in Japan prior to his stateside arrival. The 2001 AL MVP Award winner broke George Sisler’s single-season record with a staggering 262 hits during a transcendent 2004 campaign and made 10 consecutive All-Star Game appearances from 2001-2010. A six-time All-Star and 2007 AL Cy Young Award winner, Sabathia split his 19-year career between the Guardians and Yankees, with a memorable half-season stint for the Brewers sandwiched in the middle back in 2008 when he tossed an astounding seven complete games during a 17-start span. The generational southpaw, who finished with 251 wins in addition to a lifetime 3.74 ERA across 560 career starts, appeared on 86.8 percent of ballots to easily clear the 75 percent threshold. Among the elite closers of his generation and a strikeout machine, Wagner finally gets the long-awaited call for enshrinement — appearing on 82.5 percent of ballots — during his 10th and final year of eligibility after falling just short (73.8 percent) last year. The trio will join the late Dick Allen and Dave Parker, who were selected for enshrinement back in December by the Classic Baseball Era Committee, this summer in Cooperstown.

''They’re pretty much going by me, and I’m fine,’' said Sabathia Monday. An MRI turned up no abnormalities. And yet, Cleveland’s medical staff continues to run tests, including a bone scan that was scheduled for yesterday afternoon. Sabathia is scheduled to throw on the side today, when club officials finally will learn the results of all the tests and reach a conclusion.

Jason Bere, who was placed on the DL yesterday, was originally scheduled to pitch today.

Sabathia has been cleared to pitch after undergoing a battery of tests on his elbow. The twinge Sabathia felt in his last start has been passed off as an anomaly. ''As far as we know, it was just something that happened on one pitch,’' trainer Paul Spicuzza said. ''C.C. felt a click, which probably were bones meeting. There was no swelling, no pain. He’s ready to go.’' Sabathia said his arm felt normal two minutes after he experienced the twinge. Hopefully Sabathia won’t have any setbacks, but his owners should have back-up plans ready.

''I believe C.C. is healthy,’' manager Eric Wedge said. ''But his fastball hasn’t been consistent. He had a little scare two or three starts ago and has to work through that.’' Consider reserving Sabathia against the A’s Sunday if he’s still not up to speed.

Sabathia was already pushed back from Wednesday when he had food poisoning.

Sabathia is expected back Sunday and is scheduled to make his next start on Monday.

Sabathia, who left camp after the death of an uncle, will pitch a four-inning intrasquad game today.

He leads all starters in the Majors with a 1.61 ERA and has held opponents to a .170 BA, lowest in the AL. Perhaps Sabathia has finally come of age, and has taken his place amongst the elite pitchers of the American League.

With Jason Stanford due to miss another turn before he leaves the DL, manager Eric Wedge will decide between Chad Durbin or Jake Westbrook to fill the void.