Chris Sale, a seasoned pitcher known for his fiery temper and sometimes outbursts, should probably be sick of fielding questions about the “edge” he supposedly provides to the Atlanta Braves after reading and hearing about it for so long.
However, he isn’t— or, at the very least, he doesn’t appear to be— agitated by it.
The Braves should be happy about this. The former seven-time All-Star, who was dealt from the Boston Red Sox to the Braves in late December, doesn’t try to deny or take offense at the expectations or portrayal. Rather, he gives them a hug.
After the Braves pitchers and catchers started spring training drills a few days ago, Sale stated in his first interview on Saturday, “I think that just kind of goes with how I compete.” “You know, aside from when I’m on a baseball field, I’m usually really relaxed back. That’s just not a good adjective, in my opinion, to have on a baseball field. You will never succeed in competition by being carefree. I do therefore get intense. I enjoy competing. I also detest losing.
Thus, all those elements are combined with high-stress scenarios. Though occasionally you can go a bit too far, I like to think that I can pull myself together when necessary, and maybe that encourages those around me.
When questioned about whether Sale, 34, and the team as a whole shared a similar demeanor—laid-back off the field, intense and driven on it—sample. He found the analogy amusing.
“I believe this is the reason I feel so at ease (already) and the trade was very tasty,” he remarked. I have had experience playing against the Braves. We went to Atlanta when I was with Boston, and I saw them in Boston the previous year. And as you can see, there are some really nice guys. Guys throughout the league, when you question them about everyone in this room, they only have positive things to say. However, they are there to cause harm when you see them on the field. That’s just the way I work, you know? Let’s enjoy ourselves. Let’s get going and enjoy ourselves. But it’s time to leave when those lights flicker on. And this team is focused on it.
Since the start of training, Braves manager Brian Snitker has stated that it has been a pleasure to watch Sale throw. He has noted that there is something unique and exceptional about the way the lanky left-hander delivers the ball, both in terms of delivery and intensity. And it’s clear to everybody that he feels at ease with his new comrades.
As Snitker put it, “He fits right in.” “I was certain he would. Before we moved here, he had been coming and tossing a few times a week for at least a month. It’s fantastic. When you get good, quality people like Alex Anthopoulos, the general manager of the Braves, they usually fit in rather nicely.
Given that Sale’s past four seasons have only been remembered for a long list of injuries, including Tommy John elbow surgery in 2020, a broken wrist in 2022, stress fractures to his left scapula in 2023, and rib cage damage in 2022, some fans may be more familiar with Sale from the infamous 2016 incident in which he used scissors to destroy throwback Chicago White Sox uniforms that he claimed were uncomfortable for him and his teammates. or for demolishing a television following a minor-league rehab debut in 2022.
It’s easy to forget that Sale was one of the best starting pitchers in baseball for the White Sox and Red Sox for seven seasons up until 2018. During that terrible run, he averaged 240 strikeouts, 198 innings pitched, and thirty starts, and he finished with a 99-59 record and 2.91 ERA. Throughout that time, he was an All-Star in each of the seven seasons he played in, and in the final six of those seasons, he placed fifth or higher on the poll for the American League Cy Young Award.
Sale stated that he feels better than he has in a long time going into spring training and that this was the first injury- or rehab-free offseason he has had since the end of that time. A week after being traded to the Braves and agreeing to a two-year, $38 million contract, he is thrilled to be back to full health and strength following a typical summer throwing regimen.
Pitcher Spencer Strider of the Braves led the big leagues in strikeouts in the previous season with 281 in 186 2/3 innings, whereas Sale of the Boston Red Sox led the majors with 308 in 214 1/3 innings. The Braves players, including Strider, were delighted about the trade for Sale at the time, and their excitement was further heightened by getting to know him early in camp.
“We’re very good already,” Strider declared. Thus, some of the individuals we’ve added—Chris Sale, for example, is a well-known name to me and someone I grew up watching. And even in the little time I’ve already spent with him, it’s been amazing.
Regarding Sale, Snitker stated: “We had been discussing acquiring him for the past year.” We spoke with Boston intermittently for some time. even all summer long last year. I’m watching the video clips of our guys’ interviews from Braves Fest, and I can’t help but notice how thrilled Max Fried and Sale Strider are about the game. Those guys set a high bar for other guys to reach.
After the deal, Sale, who is from Naples, Florida, drove to the Braves’ North Port offices to hold bullpen sessions.
Sale expressed his faith in his health as “the most I’ve had in six years.” It was the first offseason since 2018 or thereabouts that I had gone into without having to deal with anything. It has been a while. This offseason, I had a great time playing baseball and doing things that I haven’t been able to do. Simply tossing bullpens here in the off-season; you’re meant to throw 20 pitches, but you wind up tossing 33 or 34. When I was about 20, I realized that I was still enjoying myself. I simply want to continue doing it.
“I’m content with where I am. I’m grateful to everyone who has assisted me in achieving my goals. And simply anticipating this wonderful chance that is ahead of us.
From those seven years until 2018, Sale was not just a good pitcher, he was a great pitcher. The rangy left-hander was extremely persistent, with an on-field manner akin to a live wire and a look best characterized as focused wrath as he scowled or stared toward the plate.
Former Sale teammate Tyler Flowers, a catcher who is currently a special assistant to the Braves in baseball operations, described the young player as “an animal, he really is.” He reminds me of a tiny Randy Johnson because of his arm angle. Furthermore, based on my observations over the years, he shares Randy Johnson’s perseverance and fierce competition. And all he wants is to succeed at all costs. However, the individual is coming out with a really weird arm angle. It’s hard to capture him.
Sale has a nasty slider that goes well with his mid-to upper-90s fastball. He has a peculiar sidearm throwing action that appears to be all of his arms and elbows coming toward the plate. He is barely 180 pounds and is 6 feet 6 inches tall.
It’s not the most consistent fastball in terms of cut, sink, straight, or dropper, so our catchers will need to adjust accordingly, according to Flowers. Fortunately, our catchers will adjust quickly because they are superior to me. However, it’s such a weird arm slot going at you that it just flings out and then suddenly lands on top of you that I had to think of a different setup to catch him especially.
With Sale and Fried on the left side and Strider on the right, along with 40-year-old Charlie Morton, who has averaged 201 strikeouts in 174 innings pitched over three seasons with Atlanta, leading the Braves’ starting rotation, if Sale stays healthy, among the best in baseball.
Anthopoulos remarked, “We have a lot of depth on the mound.” “Our young talent is largely concentrated on the mound. And it’s incredibly gratifying to know that Morton and Sale are two of our strongest veterans.