Red Sox Strut: Mitch Moreland and Chris Sale lead the pack

Chris Sale gets to strut once again

It’s the second week of the season and it’s the second time that Chris Sale has been honored with the chance to strut. What else is there to say about this guy – he’s a machine. Sale has come as advertised if not even better than what Sox fans expected. Every outing so far has been a pleasure to watch. He works quickly, deliberately and understands what he needs to do to get each batter out.

He was involved it two great pitching duels this week. He lost the first one on Monday to Justin Verlander and the Tigers, although reliever Justin Wilson actually got the official victory. Sale was great though – 7.2 innings and just five hits and two runs allowed with ten strikeouts and one walk. That’s a tough way to lose, but he would find redemption on Saturday.

With the Rays in town, this time Sale would be the beneficiary of the 2-1 win. He shut the Rays down too allowing just three hits and three walks to go with another big time number of strikeout with twelve.

He’s not allowing the long ball to be hit off of him and he’s not really allowing many baserunners at all for that matter. When someone does get on base, Sale doesn’t allow it to alter his approach and he shuts the door on opposing batters before they can get any momentum. The pace at which he pitches also comes into play here in keeping batters guessing.

Next: Eduardo Rodriguez on paternity leave

It’s truly an event every time he pitches and one I’m looking forward to all season. In fact, he’s already being compared to the best pitcher I’ve ever seen in a Red Sox uniform in my life – the great Pedro Martinez. I’m not sure who on the Boston staff is going to be able to dethrone the reigning strutter for two weeks straight now.