Chris Sale Calls Himself Out After Another Subpar Outing
By Jerry Trotta
Stop us if you've heard this before in 2019, but Red Sox ace Chris Sale has delivered yet another underwhelming performance. What made Wednesday's subpar outing all the more damning, however, was that it came against the lowly Blue Jays.
Sale gave up five runs and a season-high nine hits in 5.2 innings, surrendering three home runs (for the second time this season) in a loss that saw his record fall to 3-8 on the year.
And the struggling seven-time All-Star has never been more "frustrated" with his form and was severely critical of himself while speaking to reporters after the game.
Chris Sale: "I’m 3-8. That’s absolutely embarrassing. That’s not what I need to be and that’s not who I need to be for this team. On a team like this, they need me to be better. And I haven’t been been there for them."
— Christopher Smith (@SmittyOnMLB) July 4, 2019
“I’m standing before you as frustrated as I’ve ever been," the left-hander continued.
While we admire Sale acknowledging his crummy first half of the season, records aren't always the best statistical category to judge a pitcher's form. Just ask Jacob deGrom's 2018 Cy Young campaign where he finished 10-9.
Yes, 3-8 is a heinous win-loss record, but Sale has been putrid across the boards in 2019. His 4.04 ERA isn't even close to his previous career-high (3.41 in 2015). He's surrendered 89 hits in 107 innings and his 1.075 WHIP is just a culmination of his never-ending struggles.
It's July 3 and Chris Sale has a 4.04 ERA
— Christopher Smith (@SmittyOnMLB) July 4, 2019
The image of Sale's Cy-Young level stuff is quickly fading and that monstrous five-year, $145 million contract he signed with the club in the offseason looks more and more controversial as the campaign and his struggles roll on.