Pitchers are awarded All-Star appearances based on merit. Things can get tricky when managers and front office officials direct how many innings that pitcher can throw in an All-Star Game.
Chris Sale faces that exact dilemma come Tuesday night in the 83rd All-Star Game.
White Sox officials said Saturday that if Sale does make an appearance in Kansas City’s Midsummer Classic, it will not be for more than one inning.
Here’s White Sox manager Robin Ventura on Sale’s situation with the All-Star Game:
“Yeah, he won’t be starting that game — unless he goes one, which is unlikely,” said Ventura Saturday morning. “It’s an inning. It’s going to be an inning. It won’t be more. He knows it, everybody knows it.”
Well, what does Sale have to say about it? It should be something along the lines of:
“I mean, it would be something that would be great. But at the same time, I’m not going to sit here and complain about still being a part of the All-Star Game but not starting it.”
He should feel humbled that he is going to pitch in an All-Star Game.
However, throwing more than one inning won’t kill him down the road the rest of the season.
Roy Halladay threw two innings in last year’s All-Star Game and he came back in the second half with an 8-3 record and a 2.19 ERA.
On the AL side, no pitcher threw more than an inning last year and it looks like that’s going to be the case with Ron Washington as manager once again.
Chris Sale not only deserves to start Tuesday, but he also has the right to throw more than three outs.
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