Chicago White Sox squander another stellar start from Sale
Chris Sale is used to the trade rumors.
When the Chicago White Sox started sliding in 2013 (63-99), Sale's name started popping up. Now, as the Sox close in on their fourth straight losing season, the Sale speculation could very well become reality this winter.
Why would the White Sox even consider trading their best pitcher?
Consider Sunday's 2-0 loss to the Kansas City Royals at U.S. Cellular Field.
Sale did everything in his power to steer the Sox toward a win. He became the franchise's first pitcher to work at least 8 innings in 5 straight starts since Alex Fernandez in 1996 and had nothing to show for it.
Sale became the first pitcher in White Sox history to record 200 or more strikeouts in four straight seasons and has nothing to show for that either.
The Sox are in desperate need of skilled position players, preferably young with impact potential. Trading Sale likely gets the White Sox at least three of those candidates, possibly more.
"I don't worry about that stuff," Sale said. "That will shake out on its own. I wear this uniform with a lot of pride, and I hope I can continue to do that."
The Sox would love to keep Sale - they're not stupid - but Sunday was another perfect example of why a trade makes sense.
Sale pitched 8 innings and allowed only 2 solo home runs, to Kendrys Morales in the second inning and Eric Hosmer in the fifth.
Over his impressive run of 5 straight starts with 8 or more innings pitched, the White Sox have scored 5 total runs for Sale, who is now likely getting sympathy from rotation mate Jose Quintana, the reigning king of no run support on the South Side.
Like Quintana, Sale doesn't complain. The ace lefty also doesn't get too carried away with individual statistics, but he was proud Sunday of going over 200 innings for the season for the third time in his career.
"I was told very early on when I got here, 200 innings is the benchmark for a starting pitcher," Sale said. "Anything else doesn't matter. If you go out there and fill up innings, all the other stuff is going to work out. Do I appreciate (200 strikeouts)? Absolutely.
"I don't want to act like it's not cool or like I'm unappreciative of it, but there's not a single part of me that wouldn't give all that to be in the playoffs four years in a row."
White Sox vs. Cleveland Indians at U.S. Cellular Field
TV: WGN Monday; Comcast SportsNet Tuesday-Thursday
Radio: WLS 890-AM
Pitching matchups: The White Sox's Miguel Gonzalez (3-6) vs. Carlos Carrasco (11-7) Monday; Jose Quintana (11-10) vs. Trevor Bauer (11-6) Tuesday; Carlos Rodon (7-8) vs. Josh Tomlin (11-8) Wednesday; James Shields (5-17) vs. Mike Clevinger (2-2) Thursday. All games start at 7:10 p.m.
At a glance: The Sox are 3-9 vs. Cleveland this year (2-4 at home). The Indians have been in first place since June 4 and have a comfortable lead in the AL Central. Cleveland has the best pitching staff in the league, but front-end starter Danny Salazar was scratched from Wednesday's scheduled start vs. the White Sox with a tight right forearm. Second baseman Tyler Saladino's run of three straight games with 3 hits ended Sunday.
Next: Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium, Friday-Monday
- Scot Gregor