His motion and arm slot have always left him as a question mark, much like Strausburg.

 

His mechanics are much more fluid and safer than Strasburg's.

His mechanics are much more fluid and safer than Strasburg's.

 

I'm afraid of his inverted-W, as are the folks at Baseball Prospectus. Pictures of Chris Sale That Make Me Uncomfortable

Ptatc can describe it in further detail, but coming from the side puts far less stress on his elbow than coming over the top or 3/4.

 

And, as that article indicates as well, he's strikingly similar to Randy Johnson too, including mechanically. Johnson threw 200+ innings 14 times, and he was well on his way to doing it in '94 too.

 

EDIT: Thinking back, it may not have been ptatc, but I have read in the past where there is less concern over Sale due to the angle at which he throws. I'm honestly not concerned in the least.

Edited January 3, 201313 yr by witesoxfan

Ptatc can describe it in further detail, but coming from the side puts far less stress on his elbow than coming over the top or 3/4.

 

And, as that article indicates as well, he's strikingly similar to Randy Johnson too, including mechanically. Johnson threw 200+ innings 14 times, and he was well on his way to doing it in '94 too.

 

EDIT: Thinking back, it may not have been ptatc, but I have read in the past where there is less concern over Sale due to the angle at which he throws. I'm honestly not concerned in the least.

I've always thought that his arm motion is a much safer angle for his slider than coming over the top would be. I think some people just believe that coming from an angle like that automatically makes you an injury risk, and I just don't believe that to be the case.

 

Obviously every pitcher is an injury risk but Sale is no more so than any other guy imo.

Edited January 3, 201313 yr by Rowand44

I've always thought that his arm motion is a much safer angle for his slider than coming over the top would be. I think some people just believe that coming from an angle like that automatically makes you an injury risk, and I just don't believe that to be the case.

 

Obviously every pitcher is an injury risk but Sale is no more so than any other guy imo.

Any other wafer thin guy throwing 96 mph with a real solid slider, perhaps.

Any other wafer thin guy throwing 96 mph with a real solid slider, perhaps.

And we're just working with assumptions that skinny guys can't be durable I take it?

 

 

And we're just working with assumptions that skinny guys can't be durable I take it?

Correct, because if there's data out there on correlations between weight and pitching durability, I haven't seen it, but I also haven't seen anything ruling it out.

Correct, because if there's data out there on correlations between weight and pitching durability, I haven't seen it, but I also haven't seen anything ruling it out.

 

This was also that little scare this season where the Sox entertained the idea of moving him to relief permanently because they were concerned with his future. That speaks volumes, too.

Edited January 3, 201313 yr by maggsmaggs

This was also that little scare this season where the Sox entertained the idea of moving him to relief permanently because they were concerned with his future. That speaks volumes, too.

If we really want to get into it, there's also his dropping to 14th in the draft when his performance, velocity, and Lefthandness had him in the top 5 on most people's draft boards.

I understand the importance of having an ace on your staff, but, IMO, players that can help you win every day are more important than those that can help you win every 5th (or 6th) game. (ie. Cabrera > Verlander)

Good pitching usually wins in the playoffs. Cabrera may be more important in the regular season (I still disagree) but the Ace pitcher is more important to win the World Series.

And we're just working with assumptions that skinny guys can't be durable I take it?

 

I'm still scared of the opinion of a lot of baseball people that his throwing motion isn't sustainable. Skinny guys are much more reliable than guys with dangerous motions.

And we're just working with assumptions that skinny guys can't be durable I take it?

I'm more concerned with the way he gets into the arm slot. He keeps his hand down for a really long time then whips it up into the "cocked" position. Then has to rush to come forward. That really quick movement from arm down to up makes me worried about shoulder issues. His elbow is in a good spot but if someone develops shoulder issues it can always lead to elbow problems by compensation.

 

His long arms and this whip action are what gives me pause about his durability. He handled it well last year with planned breaks. I would expect that they will handle him the same this year. They will need planned breaks for him and Quintana so they really need to plan on 6 starters. Any team with playoffs aspiration should do this anyway.

Correct, because if there's data out there on correlations between weight and pitching durability, I haven't seen it, but I also haven't seen anything ruling it out.

Fair enough. But once again, I think we're all just assuming too much with Chris.

 

This was also that little scare this season where the Sox entertained the idea of moving him to relief permanently because they were concerned with his future. That speaks volumes, too.

Teams are trying to protect their young pitchers so much that they sit them down for the playoffs for no reason or debate moving them to the bullpen for basically no reason. It's paranoia and at this point, that's all it is.

 

If we really want to get into it, there's also his dropping to 14th in the draft when his performance, velocity, and Lefthandness had him in the top 5 on most people's draft boards.

That had to do with Chris' perceived contract demands.

 

Trust me, I understand why people worrry about him as he's a huge part(the biggest part) of our franchise going forward but I think people are just trying to find things to be worried about when it comes to Sale. I just don't think there's any more injury concern with Chris than there is with any other pitcher in the bigs.

That had to do with Chris' perceived contract demands.

 

Trust me, I understand why people worrry about him as he's a huge part(the biggest part) of our franchise going forward but I think people are just trying to find things to be worried about when it comes to Sale. I just don't think there's any more injury concern with Chris than there is with any other pitcher in the bigs.

I still think there was a lot of injury worry in teams, particularly the Royals, passing on him, although I'm never going to find the source that said so.

I still think there was a lot of injury worry in teams, particularly the Royals, passing on him, although I'm never going to find the source that said so.

I believe you are correct. Many teams passed on him due to mechanics and durability issues, although it's not the mechanical issues that I think he has issues with.

I believe you are correct. Many teams passed on him due to mechanics and durability issues, although it's not the mechanical issues that I think he has issues with.

 

I do wonder how many teams used "mechanical and durability" issues to mask not wanting to pay Sale's bonus demands?

The only real question I have at this point is whether or not Rickyboy sees his shadow once he pops out of his hole. This has been a mild winter so far but with that said I could still go for an early spring.

The only real question I have at this point is whether or not Rickyboy sees his shadow once he pops out of his hole. This has been a mild winter so far but with that said I could still go for an early spring.

 

Ken Rosenthal reports that he will see his shadow

Ken Rosenthal reports that he will see his shadow

 

Keith Law reports that the shadow is a bust of a prospect.