How Should The Braves Use Chris Sale?
The Braves struck a deal with the Red Sox to acquire Chris Sale. It’s obviously imperative that Sale stays healthy in order for this trade to work. It’s certainly worth questioning how Atlanta plans to use the funky left-hander.
Who knows what the Braves are thinking at this current moment in time? All I know is the Braves are foolish if they think Sale can just plug right into the rotation in Atlanta. Maybe that’s their plan, but it would be the total wrong thing to do.
How resistant will Sale be to change? Change is what’s needed to keep him healthy. Sale made 20 starts last year. The former Florida Gulf Coast product made 11 starts in the prior three years combined. This idea that you’re just going to trot Sale out there every five days at this stage of his career makes zero sense. Not if you want to keep him healthy.
The fact of the matter is April, May, and June don’t really mean much for this Braves team. They’re going to be in the postseason. It’s about winning championships for Atlanta in the stage of their team building process. The best thing for the team is to mange the game from a nine-inning standpoint.
It’s time to turn Sale into what he was at the early stage of his career. Make him a lefty opener or a two-inning reliever based on matchups you like. Let that slider eat over a short period of time when you need him. Let Sale be the auxiliary piece of the pitching staff.
Do the Braves know what they’re signing up for? If this is going to work, they better have a plan. Sale is 35 now and has been hurt a lot. I hope they’re aware of that. If so, this can be a fruitful partnership. If not, you’re going to sit here wondering why the hell Atlanta gave up six years of control of a talented bat like Vaughn Grissom.
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