Chicago White Sox Morning BP: All-Star Game Day is Here
all
Though the Chicago White Sox have just one representative at the 2015 MLB All-Star Game tonight, I’m glad that it is who I consider the face of the franchise in ace left-hander Chris Sale, because without him this season, there wouldn’t be much to cheer for.
As I said yesterday, the first half of the season was a disappointment, but how the Sox ended the first half of games did prove this team is capable of playing good baseball in the second half, but the question is will the team stay together long enough to see it?
ALSO AT SOUTHSIDE SHOWDOWN: Ranking the MLB teams for the week
More on that tomorrow, because the All-Star game is one of best days in baseball, especially this year because of all the “younger” players making their respective teams, giving the game some new blood and showcasing the future (or present, however you look at it) of Major League Baseball.
Having Sale as the representative for the White Sox is something all fans of the team can respect, because he’s getting another chance on a national stage to showcase his skills in what is being scheduled as a one-inning appearance, which I believe is a good thing for both Sale and the White Sox.
Sale has been remarkable this season with a 2.72 ERA in 17 starts, including an 8-4 record in 119.1 innings pitched. Sale has 157 strikeouts, including an MLB-record streak of eight consecutive starts of striking out at least 10 batters in a game.
The southpaw also has a WHIP of 0.95, and in his past three starts has 28 strikeouts in games against the St. Louis Cardinals, Toronto Blue Jays and the Chicago Cubs, pitching no fewer than seven innings in each of those starts.
Though Sale didn’t get the nod as the starting pitcher for the AL team (that honor went to Dallas Keuchel), he is still one of the best pitchers in all of baseball, and his second half of the season should put him in the running once again for the AL Cy Young Award.
Looking at the All-Star Game, it is schedule to air on FOX at 7 p.m. from Cincinnati, Ohio at Great American Ball Park, and if it is as exciting as Monday’s Home Run Derby, well, all of us should be in for a treat this evening when the best MLB has to offer play for home field in the World Series.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX HEADLINES:
• Sale enjoys All-Star experience in any case: by Phil Rogers of MLB.com.
• Cooper has mixed feelings about Chris Sale pitching in All-Star Game: By Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Ned Yost says Chris Sale will pitch in All-Star Game: By Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune.
• Memorable Chicago White Sox quotes on the first half: By Scot Gregor of the Daily Herald.