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Chris Sale explains why the Red Sox are making a playoff run despite a COVID outbreak which had eleven players sidelined on Sunday, “It starts at the top. Alex Cora is as good as it gets.”
In an interview with Chris Ryan, the lefty hurler for the Red Sox, Chris Sale, discusses the team’s resilience as they make a push for the playoffs, his journey back from Tommy John surgery, his approach to pitching, and how Alex Cora’s leadership under pressure has given the team confidence.
Chris Sale has given the Red Sox a huge boost since coming off the injured list on August 14th. He underwent Tommy John surgery in March of 2020. Since his return, Sale has posted a 2.53 ERA with 24 strikeouts and only 5 walks in his four starts which were all Boston victories.
In the interview, Chris Sale shares how the team veterans and he have welcomed the players who have recently joined the Red Sox and have instilled the belief that this team has the potential to go to the playoffs and beyond.
The lanky left-hander shares how undergoing elbow surgery, and the long rehabilitation process gave him the opportunity to assess priorities and to appreciate things in his life.
At 32 years old and a seven time All Star, Chris Sale is now a veteran who is looked up to by his teammates. He remembers how veteran players showed him the ropes during his days as a rookie and young player and is quite willing to pay it forward.
Red Sox Manager Alex Cora appreciates how Chris Sale shows the new arrivals how to deal with pressure while still having fun.
When he is asked where he is on returning back to form, Chris Sale takes a realistic approach, “I’m not worried about where I’m at on a scale of 1-10. I just know that I’m the best that I can be today; and, tomorrow, I’m going to be as good as I can be then.”
At 6’6” and throwing 96+ MPH, Chris Sale is intimidating when he is on the mound.
“I take what I do very seriously. I always want to look confident and aggressive. I pitch aggressively. I’m always trying to throw strikes. I’m always confident in my stuff.”
In the final segment of the interview, Chris Sale credits Alex Cora’s leadership during the bad breaks which the team has experienced with injuries and dealing with a rash of COVID cases.
“It starts at the top. A.C. (Alex Cora) is as good as it gets, and Bushy (Pitching Coach Dave Bush) is the same way.”
Sale goes on to say that the team is confident and relaxed because the manager and coaches project their belief in this team.