Chris Sale continues to find success with the Braves.
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Video Transcript
All right, so on Monday, the Atlanta Braves earned an 11-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at spring training.
All right, so on Monday, the Atlanta Braves earned an 11-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays at spring training.
Drake Baldwin led the offense.
Drake Baldwin led the offense.
He had a home run, two hits, four RBIs, and Chris Sale pitched well on the mound, turning in six innings of one-run baseball.
He had a home run, two hits, four RBIs, and Chris Sale pitched well on the mound, turning in six innings of one-run baseball.
However, what stood out to me about Sale’s performance was the fact that he did not have his best stuff today.
However, what stood out to me about Sale’s performance was the fact that he did not have his best stuff today.
Now, there are games where you will see Chris Sale, if he does pitch, you know, six innings, strike out seven to 10 hitters.
Now, there are games where you will see Chris Sale, if he does pitch, you know, six innings, strike out seven to 10 hitters.
Like, that’s not uncommon for Chris Sale.
Like, that’s not uncommon for Chris Sale.
Last year, he ranked in the ninety-fifth percentile in strikeout percentage.
Last year, he ranked in the ninety-fifth percentile in strikeout percentage.
Like, strikeouts are part of his game.
Like, strikeouts are part of his game.
But throughout his career, Sale has continued to find ways to pitch, not just be– not just throw the baseball, but pitch.
But throughout his career, Sale has continued to find ways to pitch, not just be– not just throw the baseball, but pitch.
Pitch to soft contact.
Pitch to soft contact.
when you don’t have your best stuff, can you still find success?
when you don’t have your best stuff, can you still find success?
And that’s what we saw with Sale on Monday.
And that’s what we saw with Sale on Monday.
So for Chris Sale on Monday, he surrendered five hits.
So for Chris Sale on Monday, he surrendered five hits.
He also allowed a home run.
He also allowed a home run.
Again, only one run scored, though.
Again, only one run scored, though.
And he only struck out three hitters.
And he only struck out three hitters.
In my opinion And no, this isn’t even my opinion, this is kind of just a fact.
In my opinion And no, this isn’t even my opinion, this is kind of just a fact.
There are pitchers around baseball who are great pitchers, but when they don’t have their best stuff, things can get, you know, th-they can get in trouble pretty easily.
There are pitchers around baseball who are great pitchers, but when they don’t have their best stuff, things can get, you know, th-they can get in trouble pretty easily.
If they don’t have the strikeout pitch, they typically don’t have great outings.
If they don’t have the strikeout pitch, they typically don’t have great outings.
Chris Sale, he’s continued to develop in that sense, and he’s now at a point where he can go out and strike out two or three hitters and still have a great game like he did today.
Chris Sale, he’s continued to develop in that sense, and he’s now at a point where he can go out and strike out two or three hitters and still have a great game like he did today.
He doesn’t have to strike out everybody.
He doesn’t have to strike out everybody.
And that, to me, is a real test to see how good a pitcher truly is.
And that, to me, is a real test to see how good a pitcher truly is.
In today’s game, there are so many guys who can throw one hundred, one oh one.
In today’s game, there are so many guys who can throw one hundred, one oh one.
That’s not uncommon these days.
That’s not uncommon these days.
But can you go out when you don’t have your best stuff and still get outs?
But can you go out when you don’t have your best stuff and still get outs?
Can you still give your team a chance to win?
Can you still give your team a chance to win?
Can you still grind through five or six innings?
Can you still grind through five or six innings?
Are there gonna be games where Sale goes out and strikes out ten batters?
Are there gonna be games where Sale goes out and strikes out ten batters?
Yes, but he’s– we’re gonna see that.
Yes, but he’s– we’re gonna see that.
But I think Braves fans should find comfort in the fact that even if Sale doesn’t have that strikeout pitch, he’s still going to pitch to contact, he’s still going to get soft contact, he’s still not going to walk a lot of hitters, and he’s going to give the Braves a chance to win.
But I think Braves fans should find comfort in the fact that even if Sale doesn’t have that strikeout pitch, he’s still going to pitch to contact, he’s still going to get soft contact, he’s still not going to walk a lot of hitters, and he’s going to give the Braves a chance to win.
And that’s, that to me is one of the most valuable elements, of the game for a pitcher.
And that’s, that to me is one of the most valuable elements, of the game for a pitcher.
So Chris Sale, man, he’s just about as reliable as it gets for star pitchers in today’s game.
So Chris Sale, man, he’s just about as reliable as it gets for star pitchers in today’s game.