I know, it was one game, against the Indians, in April. But Chris Sale is the best thing the Sox have in the starting staff. I like Danks, I like Gavin, I like healthy Peavy, but none of these guys currently have what Sale does.
Sale was great out of the pen last year, but he's built to be a starter. He mixed his pitches, he over powered guys when he had to, he really just completely dominated the Indians tonight.
And he's been doing it. Take a look at what he did all Spring. He pretty much dominated all month long, and it has now officially extended into this year.
Sale saved 12 games and held 18 more last year. Doing this with a sub 2.5 ERA and a WHIP that hovered around the 1.00 (finished at 1.10) mark all year.
But this year, he looks to be back where he belongs. He threw 6.2 innings, struck out 5, and threw 100 pitches. The last being the most impressive to me. First career start after half a season coming out of the pen, and he's able to go for 100 pitches. And, he got better as the game went on. Before hitting the Korean (sorry for calling him Japanese earlier) Choo in the hand, he had retired 10 in a row.
Sale didn't have a tough inning. Not even one. 4 hitters in the 1st, 5 in the 2nd, 3 in the 3rd, 4th, and 5th. 5 in the 6th (allowed 1 run), and just the 2 he faced in the 7th.
Fantastic start tonight, and a very promising future. I heard him referred to a number of times as a "possible ace." I'm not going to crown him that yet, but he's well on his way. (And I will probably put that crown on in about a 2 or 3 more starts.)
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