Would the Sox coaching and training staff start Sale knowing he's injured?

[TylerD]

So you think their plan is for him not to throw over 90mph?

 

Why is that so crazy?? "Chris don't throw 97-100 and burn you arm out half way into the season, rather rely on your slider and breaking ball with a couple fast balls in there at not full power." It sounds ridiculous? well..... it worked....... I'm not saying that happened at all, however it doesn't seem as INSANE as some people make it out to be. If he got lit up 2 or 3 starts in a row and didn't go back to his fastball that has worked for him I would begin to sweat yes. But he tried something different in his second start and it worked great so keep it going until the wheels fall off and then figure things out.

[Kimmi]

Sale will be fine. He is Chris Freakin' Sale after all.

 

The Sox were just not ready for the start of the season. Cora has a plan. I trust his plan.

[dgalehouse]

The drop in velocity is definitely a concern. There is no getting around that . Hopefully, the velocity increases as the weather improves.

[BillyWilliams]

Why is that so crazy?? "Chris don't throw 97-100 and burn you arm out half way into the season, rather rely on your slider and breaking ball with a couple fast balls in there at not full power." It sounds ridiculous? well..... it worked....... I'm not saying that happened at all, however it doesn't seem as INSANE as some people make it out to be. If he got lit up 2 or 3 starts in a row and didn't go back to his fastball that has worked for him I would begin to sweat yes. But he tried something different in his second start and it worked great so keep it going until the wheels fall off and then figure things out.

 

It's asinine. That's just a way that sawx fans are trying to justify it.

[devildavid]

Sale has not been himself since July 2018. I am not surprised by his bad start this season. Could very well be physical issues.

[Kimmi]

Scouts who watched him pitch his first two games this season think that Sale is injured.

 

I don't know how much weight we should give to that, or who those scouts are, but that doesn't sound encouraging.

[Jasonbay44]

Scouts who watched him pitch his first two games this season think that Sale is injured.

 

I don't know how much weight we should give to that, or who those scouts are, but that doesn't sound encouraging.

This has been my concern too. The velocity drop is a major concern. I know a lot of people are saying it’s due to him going easy and saving himself, but I highly doubt that.

[notin]

Sale has not been himself since July 2018. I am not surprised by his bad start this season. Could very well be physical issues.

 

 

If that’s the case, our GM/President is an idiot...

[Jack Flap]

Given all the team has done the last year or two to try to protect Sale's arm and keep him healthy and fresh for October, I'm surprised anyone thinks they would run him out there (in April, no less) knowing he's injured. Not to mention the fact that he had to pass a physical just a couple of weeks ago to finalize his big extension.

 

I'm sure they believe he's physically fine...I just hope they're right.

Edited April 9, 2019 by Jack Flap

[Jack Flap]

Red Sox ace Chris Sale was sick between his first and second starts of the 2019 season, Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Tuesday. It likely contributed to a decrease in velocity because of limited preparation before his start in Oakland last Wednesday.

 

https://www.masslive.com/sports/2019/04/chris-sale-sick-boston-red-sox-starter-was-ill-between-first-and-second-start-likely-contributed-to-dip-in-velocity.html

[fxkatt]

Not the best day for him to pitch if he still isn't fully back. Right now at 1:11 pm it's 38 degrees and cloudy. It seems that no rain for the afternoon hours, at least.

 

I don't recognize half of the hitters in the Jay's starting lineup--and almost all have low averages, so that my be a plus for Sale's next step. In fact, a lot of teams in the league may be a plus for him... some terrible lineups this year.

[SoxnCycles]

Sale will be fine. He is Chris Freakin' Sale after all.

 

The Sox were just not ready for the start of the season. Cora has a plan. I trust his plan.

 

If

Cora has a plan, I hope he pulls it out soon.

A good way to turn it around would be to kick the crap out of the O's and Yankees.

[jacksonianmarch]

The drop in velocity is definitely a concern. There is no getting around that . Hopefully, the velocity increases as the weather improves.

 

The weather wasn’t bad in Seattle or Oakland

[jacksonianmarch]

Sale came out yesterday with a little extra juice and was able to hump it up to 94 early, but couldn’t sustain it late. This isn’t a “workload” thing. This is either big workloads catching up to him or an injury. If he’s intent on pitching through it, he’ll need another pitch and better command.

[Hitch]

Given all the team has done the last year or two to try to protect Sale's arm and keep him healthy and fresh for October, I'm surprised anyone thinks they would run him out there (in April, no less) knowing he's injured. Not to mention the fact that he had to pass a physical just a couple of weeks ago to finalize his big extension.

 

I'm sure they believe he's physically fine...I just hope they're right.

 

Exactly this. If anyone thinks we are deliberately sending out our star pitcher while injured I think a trip to the doctor is required. And not for Sale.

[notin]

Exactly this. If anyone thinks we are deliberately sending out our star pitcher while injured I think a trip to the doctor is required. And not for Sale.

 

 

If the Sox didn’t extend him, I could see caring less about his arm...

[Bellhorn04]

If the Sox didn’t extend him, I could see caring less about his arm...

 

That sentiment is way too cold for me.

[mvp 78]

That sentiment is way too cold for me.

 

Sounds about right to me.

[Slasher9]

If the Sox didn’t extend him, I could see caring less about his arm...

 

dang.

[notin]

dang.

 

Well, don’t you think they need to be concerned about a $150mill investment?

[notin]

That sentiment is way too cold for me.

 

 

There is a big difference between “caring less” and “not caring”...

[Bellhorn04]

There is a big difference between “caring less” and “not caring”...

 

Technically, caring less covers a wide range all the way down to having almost none.

[notin]

Technically, caring less covers a wide range all the way down to having almost none.

 

 

Exactly.

 

And now that Sale is locked up for this year and the five after it, do they worry more, the same, or less than if they knew he was gone after 2019?

 

It’s like how the Nationals pulled Strasburg from the postseason for fear of his arm. They were worried about his next 5 years...

[Bellhorn04]

Exactly.

 

And now that Sale is locked up for this year and the five after it, do they worry more, the same, or less than if they knew he was gone after 2019?

 

They worry more, but I don't think they treat him much differently.

[mvp 78]

They worry more, but I don't think they treat him much differently.

 

I don't believe that second part.

[Bellhorn04]

I don't believe that second part.

 

I think most of the time players are treated ethically. Not all of the time, no.

[notin]

I think most of the time players are treated ethically. Not all of the time, no.

 

 

We’ve seen teams deliberately coddle investment players (Strasburg) and players/agents deliberately take their own precautions when money is on the line (Matt Harvey). Let’s not pretend this is a new concept from either side...

[Bellhorn04]

We’ve seen teams deliberately coddle investment players (Strasburg) and players/agents deliberately take their own precautions when money is on the line (Matt Harvey). Let’s not pretend this is a new concept from either side...

 

I agree there are such examples. They usually seem to generate a fair amount of publicity. I just don't think it's general practice.

[notin]

I agree there are such examples. They usually seem to generate a fair amount of publicity. I just don't think it's general practice.

 

It might be more widespread than you think if they don’t all generate publicity...

[Bellhorn04]

It might be more widespread than you think if they don’t all generate publicity...

 

Sure, we can speculate all we want.