A Sale Day

  As a Red Sox fan, every fifth game brings my eyes to the TV and to the product on the field. Every fifth game, each fan can expect a shorter game than the norm in baseball today. Because every fifth game is “a Sale day.”

   Chris Sale is THE top pitcher in baseball. Considering the fact that Clayton Kershaw is currently on the DL and Madison Bumgarner has just returned from a major injury, it seems Sale’s closest competition right now could be Cleveland Indians starter, Cory Kluber or National’s ace Max Scherzer.

   Sale’s strikeout performance continues to be unmatched, leading all MLB starters with 241 punch-outs, with second behind him being Scherzer at 220. He remains second only behind Kershaw(on a stacked Dodgers team) for most wins this season (14) and is fourth in ERA (2.51) for the entire MLB.  But in the tougher American League, where the pitcher doesn’t bat, he ranks first in wins, WAR (for pitchers only), ERA, WHIP, Walks per 9, Strikeouts per 9, Innings Pitched, and Strikeouts per walk.  And oh by the way, he is nearly a lock for the Cy Young Award which would give the Sox their second straight Cy Young winner in as many years.

   But why can’t Sale be considered for MVP? Some writers and broadcasters say he could be, but many national media and local media members say otherwise. Perhaps it is because of Jose Altuve’s studly year (.363/.423/.995) or Mike Trout’s impressive year despite injury, or maybe even the power surge season of  rookie sensation Aaron Judge. Despite those names I have crafted an argument against each one.

  Altuve is without a doubt a great hitter and an equally as talented of a defensive player but the Astros lead all of the MLB in wins, they play in a division that has been underperforming for most if not all season, and the Astros could or probably would still be the best team in the MLB without Altuve’s performance being as high as it is. Meanwhile, Mike Trout battled some injuries early in the season and had a long stint on the DL which didn’t allow him to come back until mid-summertime. So even though he already had good numbers, he has only played in 75 games thus far. Lastly, Aaron Judge was a monster the entire first half of the season before the All-Star break, consistently keeping in contention with Giancarlo Stanton in the home-run race and was hitting in the .300’s. Now, it seems like Judge can’t hit a beach ball as he is hitting .17 with only seven homers since the Break.

   So why not Sale? The 6’6” 180lbs. southpaw consistently hits the upper ninety’s (96-99) has a filthy slider, can get out both lefty’s and righties, has punched out 10 or more players 16 times this season (beating Pedro Martinez’ record of 14), and is on pace to have over 300 strikeouts. He never backs down from a fight, and I would argue he is the most important player on this 2017 Red Sox team.  If I were a BBWA member, Sale has my vote for first place in a millisecond.  Every fifth game, on “a Sale Day,” you know he will put you in pretty good spot to win.

  Sale has yet to pitch in the playoffs, but if not only this season but his entire career is any indicator, he should be just fine in October. Without a doubt the Red Sox aren’t in first place on August 19 if Sale isn’t on the pitching staff, and even though players like Andrew Benintendi, Drew Pomeranz, and Dustin Pedroia have provided sparks throughout the year, they still don’t replace the importance Sale has. Sale is lined up to pitch each time the Yankees and Sox play for the rest of the year, and this past Sunday despite not earning the win, he handled the Yankees strongly as he has most of his career. It is mid-August now, which means September is right around the corner, and maybe come October we will be calling it Saletember. Chris Sale, you got my vote. 

Written by Nick Gendreau