The Register Citizen (Torrington, CT)
Newcomer Sale debuts for Red Sox
WEST PALM BEACH, FLA. » Chris Sale gave himself mixed reviews after his first spring training performance for the Boston Red Sox, an outing that ended a little earlier than originally planned.
Boston manager John Farrell had Sale set to go three innings Monday against Houston. But after 37 pitches in two innings, Farrell decided the debut was over.
“I understand why, I mean I racked up a pretty good amount of pitches, which is another thing I’d like to get down,” Sale said.
Acquired from the Chicago White Sox in December, the dominant lefty gave up two runs, one of them earned, and struck out two.
“Happy? I don’t know,” Sale said. “I got some good work in. I’m not a fan of sitting here and saying spring training doesn’t matter. You still want to get results.”
The scoreboard radar gun showed Sale’s fastball hitting 97 mph a couple times during the first inning. His final offering was 76 mph slider that he took something off, striking out Marwin Gonzalez looking.
Sale had his own cheering section at the Astros’ park. He’s from Lakeland and his parents, in-laws and some former college buddies from Florida Gulf Coast made the roughly two-hour drive to see him don the Red Sox uniform — red
jersey, gray pants and a red cap with a blue bill — for the first time.
The Red Sox traded three minor leaguers and highly touted Yoan Moncada to the White Sox for Sale, a fivetime All-Star and the 2015 AL strikeout king.
Sale’s addition took on even more importance earlier this spring when lefty ace David Price began experiencing elbow soreness. Price’s status for the start of the season remains uncertain.
“I think every player we have has got a certain amount of scrutiny just because it’s Boston,” Farrell said. “Independent of developments on our roster, health wise or other, Chris Sale is going to draw a lot of attention. Based on what we know of him, I think he’ll handle this environment well. It can be unique for players coming in the first year and going through an adjustment period but he seems to be very well equipped to stay focused on the things he can control.”
Farrell believes Sale’s competitiveness will elevate his teammate’s focus.
“You get the sense that the team, on the day he’s on the mound, takes on that persona,” Farrell said. “There’s an edge about him, the way he goes about his work. He’s got tremendous physical ability to back that up.”
Wheeler excited
Zack Wheeler is excited about his exhibition start Friday against Houston, his first time pitching in a game for the New York Mets in two years.
“I’m kind of nervous about, like, in the stretch with a guy on first base, like balking and stuff. You feel like you haven’t played a game in 10 years,” Wheeler said.
Wheeler injured his elbow pitching against Miami in a spring training game on March 9, 2015, and had surgery 16 days later to repair a torn right ulnar collateral ligament. He returned last summer and threw 17 pitches over one inning in a rain-shortened start on Aug. 6 for Class A St. Lucie, then complained of elbow discomfort and didn’t pitch again.
“I mean, from what guys are telling me and what people said, the ball’s coming out good. I felt happy with it,” Wheeler said after throwing a bullpen session Sunday. “I guess I’m excited. It’s just another step forward. I’m feeling better every time I go out there. Hopefully, it translates over to the game and we’ll go from there.”
Wheeler said his curveballs and sliders felt sharper.
“I kind of feel like I’m waiting for a setback, but everything’s going good. It definitely felt better than last time,” he said.
Spring roundup
METS 8, MARLINS 2 >> Mets lefty Steven Matz pitched two scoreless innings in his first game since having elbow surgery in October. Travis d’Arnaud and L.J. Mazzilli, son of former Mets star Lee Mazzilli, homered for New York.
Giancarlo Stanton hit his first spring home run for Miami. Free agent addition Edinson Volquez threw 3 1/3 innings, allowing one run. PIRATES 13, YANKEES 1 >> Jordy Mercer homered for Pittsburgh while former first-round pick Austin Meadows hit a two-run double.
New York starter Bryan Mitchell was ineffective, allowing four earned runs in 2 1/3 innings. He is competing for a spot in the rotation. RED SOX 5, ASTROS 5, 9 INNINGS >> Hanley Ramirez went 1 for 3 as Boston’s designated hitter. His right shoulder injury has cleared to the point where he’s in the early stages of a throwing program, but there is no word on when can play first base.
Colin Moran homered for Houston.