Yankees pitcher CC Sabathia is talking for the first time about his decision to enter rehab for alcoholism just before the playoffs.

Read: Halle Berry Hits the Red Carpet For First Time Since Divorce As Her Ex's Slam Her Online

He told Good Morning America's Robin Roberts: “I woke up and said: ‘I need help.’ It was a tough decision because I felt I let my team down.”

Roberts said: “You got a lot of support, but then there are people who said: 'Really, CC now, really.'"

“I understand, you know, that a lot of fans were upset but what they don’t understand is this is a disease, just like if I hurt my back or arm and I need to do this for my family,” the former World Series champion defended himself.

Sabathia said that he realized he had an alcohol problem in 2012.

Read: Royals Player Pitches Hours After His Father Past Away

“I would battle it without any help,” he said. “I would go two or three months at a time sober and I would relapse. I would have weekends when I thought nobody was paying attention, get into the hotel room and drink the hotel mini bar of pretty much everything.”

Watch Below: Yankees Recreate the Iconic 'Sandlot' Scene