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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 27, 2021 3:40:57 GMT -5
Lou Merloni @loumerloni · 6h Curious why Whitlock is still in this game. 10-2? Another inning means another day before you can use him again
They’ve handled Sale perfectly. Tough to complain about anything.
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 27, 2021 3:42:22 GMT -5
Why did Chris Sale hit 98 mph after giving up home run Thursday? Good mechanics and ‘a little bit of hate,’ Boston Red Sox ace says Updated: 12:52 a.m. | Published: 12:40 a.m.
By Chris Cotillo | ccotillo@MassLive.com
BOSTON -- Red Sox lefty Chris Sale looked like the Chris Sale of old for much of his start Thursday night against the Twins.
There was the unhittable slider, the immaculate third inning and the eight strikeouts in four innings. But perhaps most impressive from Sale was the ability to crank up his velocity late in his outing after allowing a Willians Astudillo home run that proved to be all the damage he’d allow in 5 ⅓ innings.
After Astudillo cleared the Green Monster to cut Boston’s lead to 4-2 in the fifth inning, Sale threw three consecutive fastballs at 98 mph or harder, marking the first time he had reached that mark since returning from his two-year absence earlier in the month. On a night when Sale’s fastball averaged 94.3 mph, the velocity jump was notable -- and came from a place of anger after allowing the homer, according to the lefty.
“That’s probably the most pissed I’ve been on a baseball field in a while,” Sale said. “That’s just coming out of anger and frustration. I like to call those ‘F-U’ fastballs. I can’t really say the word. I got pissed and I got going.
“Today was probably the best my mechanics have been start to finish,” he continued. “I felt like I was really staying on top of the baseball. I really kind of found it out in the bullpen before the game. That mixed with a little bit of hate, honestly, I really got extended and let it eat.”
To manager Alex Cora, seeing 98 mph repeatedly flash on the Fenway Park radar gun during the fifth inning was eye-opening.
“He showed us that he has something in the tank,” Cora said. “We hate to see the homer, but then after that, you saw the numbers going up. That’s a good sign.”
Before Astudillo’s homer, Sale was virtually unhittable, as he allowed just one baserunner (a first-inning walk) and struck out eight batters in four no-hit innings to begin his outing. After Sale needed just nine pitches to record three strikeouts in his immaculate third inning, Cora begin to think history -- in the form of either a no-hitter or 20+ strikeout performance -- was possible.
“He was in control. A lot of strikeouts. Very effective,” Cora said. “The pitch count was low. At one point, I was like, ‘We don’t need too much drama with where he’s at right now.’ It felt like, after that shutdown inning -- it was three strikeouts, nine pitches -- I was like, ‘Ugh, this might be one of those where I have to make a decision.’”
Cora didn’t end up having to make a tough decision, as he lifted Sale after 5 ⅓ innings and 80 pitches with Boston leading, 5-2. The Sox then scored five times in the bottom of the sixth and went on to win, 12-2; Sale is now 3-0 with a 2.35 ERA since returning.
Sale’s outing was the best of his three so far and will likely make Cora more comfortable about letting him go with fewer limitations his next time out against the Rays on Tuesday night. Sale was encouraged by the progress he showed as well.
“Tonight, as a whole, was the best I’ve felt coming into a start, coming out of a start and during the start,” Sale said. “I felt strong throughout.”
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Post by CP_Jon_GoSox on Aug 27, 2021 3:46:23 GMT -5
Red Sox Stats @redsoxstats · 8h Chris Sale's slider usage by start: 20%, 23%, 40%
Obviously try to build off a scoreless appearance, has to feel good right about now. The fastball command was still all over the place though, velos 95 96 95 95 95 95 95 96 95 96
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Aug 27, 2021 9:30:40 GMT -5
Lou Merloni @loumerloni · 1h Here’s what I do if I’m @ac13alex , institute a “No Pimp Zone” for a couple weeks. Hit the ball and run as hard as you can 4X a game. If it gets out, stop and enjoy it then and only the. #KnowYourPop Lou, as always, 100% right. In four weeks, our fate will be sealed, and more likely, maybe 3 weeks. Over that period, no more pimping, no more waving from 2nd base, no more cart rides. The day we clinch a playoff spot, they can go all Martha and the Vandellas for all I care. But for three weeks, sprint out everything, back up every play, anticipate every baserunning decision.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Aug 27, 2021 9:31:38 GMT -5
Lou Merloni @loumerloni · 6h Curious why Whitlock is still in this game. 10-2? Another inning means another day before you can use him again
They’ve handled Sale perfectly. Tough to complain about anything. Pure guess is that they want to keep him on a 2 inning/game schedule.
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Post by scrappyunderdog on Aug 27, 2021 9:50:49 GMT -5
Julian McWilliams @byjulianmack · 5h Sale on touching 98 after the homer: "That was one of those F-U, fastballs, honestly. I can't say the word." Said this was the best his mechanics felt. I've often wondered if Barnes might benefit from occasionally just trying to throw the ball thru the wall.
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