Note Levangie's quotes below suggesting that Chris Sale is still just getting his season ready and is slow to start by design due to pushed back Spring Training. This is not me tooting my horn at being right because I would never ever do that.
Chris Sale isn’t alarmed.
By Chad Jennings of The Athletic
OAKLAND – It was almost exactly one month ago that Chris Sale sat in front of his spring training locker and inadvertently predicted almost exactly what happened to him on Tuesday night.
“Someone like Nolan Ryan, right,” Sale said. “If he didn’t feel good for a day, the whole world didn’t know it. He just threw at a lower speed…. If that happens to one of us? It’s all over Twitter. It’s all over everywhere. Something’s wrong! Something’s happened! He’s lost it, right? Back then, they’re just grinding. That’s called grinding. That’s the definition of going out there and just figuring it out.”
Chris Sale was grinding on Tuesday.
And, yes, the whole world knew it.
Oakland hitters stepping in the box knew it. Christian Vazquez calling the pitches knew it. Any schmuck with access to a television or the internet showing 89-mph fastball velocities knew it. This was a diminished version of the Red Sox ace. It was also an impressive version of the Red Sox ace.
Six innings. Three hits. One run. One strikeout. For the first time in his career, Sale threw more than three innings without notching more than one strikeout, but it was still the Red Sox’ best start of the season, by a lot.
“The name of the game isn’t velocity,” Sale said. “It’s giving your team a chance to win. No matter what you’re featuring that day, you’ve got to get as deep into the game as you can and leave your team a chance to win when you’re out of there. At the end of the day, like I said, just take this one off the chin and keep going.”
Sale gave his team a chance. The problem for the Red Sox was not their starting pitcher. It was their lifeless offense being shutout for the second night in a row. It was Xander Bogaerts hesitating around second and being thrown out at third. It was those damned Oakland A’s, again, with the kryptonite.
But Chris Sale averaging 89.1 mph on his fastball, basically abandoning that pitch in middle innings, and failing to record a strikeout beyond the third batter he faced? It was unusual. It was perhaps alarming considering last year’s shoulder problems, but it was at the very least unusual.
“You guys want him to pitch the whole year or do you want him to go out and throw 100 (mph) right now and not be there for his team,” pitching coach Dana LeVangie said. “He’s building. He had a long year last year. He’s building up to be the guy he wants to be. He started last year similar, but we’re getting to that point. But just not right now.”
Sale did, indeed, go through a build-up period early last year. His fastball averaged 93.36 mph last April. But it topped out at 92 on Tuesday, a maximum lower than his average fastball velocity on Opening Day. Only one of his first nine fastballs topped 90 mph, and in a 12-pitch third inning, Sale threw just two fastballs. He threw only two more in a six-pitch fourth, and four in a 15-pitch fifth. Sale said he never once talked to Vazquez about changing the mix. Vazquez simply knew it had to be done. Sale said it was the nature of the modern game, not the radar readings, that necessitated the change.
“I just think that’s kind of part of the evolution of the game,” he said. “It seemed like even if I threw two or three fastballs in an inning, they were ready for it. You kind of see how the game goes, see how the swings are in the at-bats and adjust accordingly.”
Here’s Sale’s pitch selection in his first two starts of the season:
Game 1: 39 percent fastballs, 37 percent sliders, 24 percent changeups
Game 2: 33 percent fastballs, 32 percent sliders, 34 percent changeups
In his career, Sale’s been closer to 50 percent fastballs than 30 percent fastballs. If one of Tuesday’s changeups had been a slider instead, he would have thrown exactly 29 of each individual pitch (25 four-seam fastballs and four two-seam fastballs according to Statcast), an even mix that he’d never shown in the past. In his final inning, Sale did go back to his fastball when five of his last 13 pitches were heaters, with four of them registering 90.8 mph or higher (four of his seven highest velocity pitches of the night). But still, five days ago he averaged 92.3 mph and topped out at 94.5. Again, it was unusual.
“Zero — zero concern,” pitching coach Dana LeVangie said. “Not at all. He dialed it up when he wanted to. It’s there. But he knows how important he is to his team. He can pitch, regardless of the velocity.”
So, what to make of this grinding version of Chris Sale?
It’s all part of the plan. The slow build-up of spring training has carried into April, Sale’s velocity will naturally build to its previous levels, the Red Sox are keeping him safe and healthy, and Tuesday was to be admired as an old-school display of pitch-ability.
It’s not exactly part of the plan – velocity could be higher at this point – but it’s not exactly a problem either. The build-up is taking a little more time than it has in the past, but Sale’s talented enough to deal with it, and it’s ultimately fine.
There’s something wrong. Maybe it’s the shoulder again, maybe it’s his mechanics, maybe it’s something else, but it’s a minor issue that will naturally work itself out with time and effort. In Sale and LeVangie and Alex Cora We Trust.
We’re going to inevitably look back at this start as a gigantic, waving, rippling red flag when Sale was able to admirably grind through a solid start to serve as a smokescreen for something more sinister.
The Red Sox say it’s No. 1 — No. 2 at the worst — and given how protective they’ve been, it’s worth noting that Sale was allowed to keep going up to 87 pitches, 11 more than he threw in his Opening Day start. Would the Red Sox let their ace do that if they thought he was hurt, or if they thought he was at risk of getting hurt? Probably not.
“I’m still just trying to find it,” Sale said. “Still working on some things with my mechanics and trying to find my space out there. Just trying to get comfortable and find the groove. That’s half the battle with a pitcher, especially a starting pitcher, is finding a groove and getting comfortable. We’re still working. It’s a work in progress. Like I said, that’s no excuse. Have to go out there and find a way.”
Sale found a way on Tuesday. It was called grinding. And it was unusual.
Note Levangie's quotes below suggesting that Chris Sale is still just getting his season ready and is slow to start by design due to pushed back Spring Training. This is not me tooting my horn at being right because I would never ever do that. Chris Sale isn’t alarmed. By Chad Jennings of The Athletic OAKLAND – It was almost exactly one month ago that Chris Sale sat in front of his spring training locker and inadvertently predicted almost exactly what happened to him on Tuesday night. “Someone like Nolan Ryan, right,” Sale said. “If he didn’t feel good for a day, the whole world didn’t know it. He just threw at a lower speed…. If that happens to one of us? It’s all over Twitter. It’s all over everywhere. Something’s wrong! Something’s happened! He’s lost it, right? Back then, they’re just grinding. That’s called grinding. That’s the definition of going out there and just figuring it out.” Chris Sale was grinding on Tuesday. And, yes, the whole world knew it. Oakland hitters stepping in the box knew it. Christian Vazquez calling the pitches knew it. Any schmuck with access to a television or the internet showing 89-mph fastball velocities knew it. This was a diminished version of the Red Sox ace. It was also an impressive version of the Red Sox ace. Six innings. Three hits. One run. One strikeout. For the first time in his career, Sale threw more than three innings without notching more than one strikeout, but it was still the Red Sox’ best start of the season, by a lot. “The name of the game isn’t velocity,” Sale said. “It’s giving your team a chance to win. No matter what you’re featuring that day, you’ve got to get as deep into the game as you can and leave your team a chance to win when you’re out of there. At the end of the day, like I said, just take this one off the chin and keep going.” Sale gave his team a chance. The problem for the Red Sox was not their starting pitcher. It was their lifeless offense being shutout for the second night in a row. It was Xander Bogaerts hesitating around second and being thrown out at third. It was those damned Oakland A’s, again, with the kryptonite. But Chris Sale averaging 89.1 mph on his fastball, basically abandoning that pitch in middle innings, and failing to record a strikeout beyond the third batter he faced? It was unusual. It was perhaps alarming considering last year’s shoulder problems, but it was at the very least unusual. “You guys want him to pitch the whole year or do you want him to go out and throw 100 (mph) right now and not be there for his team,” pitching coach Dana LeVangie said. “He’s building. He had a long year last year. He’s building up to be the guy he wants to be. He started last year similar, but we’re getting to that point. But just not right now.” Sale did, indeed, go through a build-up period early last year. His fastball averaged 93.36 mph last April. But it topped out at 92 on Tuesday, a maximum lower than his average fastball velocity on Opening Day. Only one of his first nine fastballs topped 90 mph, and in a 12-pitch third inning, Sale threw just two fastballs. He threw only two more in a six-pitch fourth, and four in a 15-pitch fifth. Sale said he never once talked to Vazquez about changing the mix. Vazquez simply knew it had to be done. Sale said it was the nature of the modern game, not the radar readings, that necessitated the change. “I just think that’s kind of part of the evolution of the game,” he said. “It seemed like even if I threw two or three fastballs in an inning, they were ready for it. You kind of see how the game goes, see how the swings are in the at-bats and adjust accordingly.” Here’s Sale’s pitch selection in his first two starts of the season: Game 1: 39 percent fastballs, 37 percent sliders, 24 percent changeups Game 2: 33 percent fastballs, 32 percent sliders, 34 percent changeups In his career, Sale’s been closer to 50 percent fastballs than 30 percent fastballs. If one of Tuesday’s changeups had been a slider instead, he would have thrown exactly 29 of each individual pitch (25 four-seam fastballs and four two-seam fastballs according to Statcast), an even mix that he’d never shown in the past. In his final inning, Sale did go back to his fastball when five of his last 13 pitches were heaters, with four of them registering 90.8 mph or higher (four of his seven highest velocity pitches of the night). But still, five days ago he averaged 92.3 mph and topped out at 94.5. Again, it was unusual. “Zero — zero concern,” pitching coach Dana LeVangie said. “Not at all. He dialed it up when he wanted to. It’s there. But he knows how important he is to his team. He can pitch, regardless of the velocity.” So, what to make of this grinding version of Chris Sale? It’s all part of the plan. The slow build-up of spring training has carried into April, Sale’s velocity will naturally build to its previous levels, the Red Sox are keeping him safe and healthy, and Tuesday was to be admired as an old-school display of pitch-ability. It’s not exactly part of the plan – velocity could be higher at this point – but it’s not exactly a problem either. The build-up is taking a little more time than it has in the past, but Sale’s talented enough to deal with it, and it’s ultimately fine. There’s something wrong. Maybe it’s the shoulder again, maybe it’s his mechanics, maybe it’s something else, but it’s a minor issue that will naturally work itself out with time and effort. In Sale and LeVangie and Alex Cora We Trust. We’re going to inevitably look back at this start as a gigantic, waving, rippling red flag when Sale was able to admirably grind through a solid start to serve as a smokescreen for something more sinister. The Red Sox say it’s No. 1 — No. 2 at the worst — and given how protective they’ve been, it’s worth noting that Sale was allowed to keep going up to 87 pitches, 11 more than he threw in his Opening Day start. Would the Red Sox let their ace do that if they thought he was hurt, or if they thought he was at risk of getting hurt? Probably not. “I’m still just trying to find it,” Sale said. “Still working on some things with my mechanics and trying to find my space out there. Just trying to get comfortable and find the groove. That’s half the battle with a pitcher, especially a starting pitcher, is finding a groove and getting comfortable. We’re still working. It’s a work in progress. Like I said, that’s no excuse. Have to go out there and find a way.” Sale found a way on Tuesday. It was called grinding. And it was unusual.