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Red Sox Memories: A common pitching thread to Red Sox championships

By Rick McNair

FT. MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 17: Principal Owner John Henry of the Boston Red Sox speaks to the media during a press conference during a team workout on February 17, 2020 at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images)
FT. MYERS, FL - FEBRUARY 17: Principal Owner John Henry of the Boston Red Sox speaks to the media during a press conference during a team workout on February 17, 2020 at jetBlue Park at Fenway South in Fort Myers, Florida. (Photo by Billie Weiss/Boston Red Sox/Getty Images) /
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Red Sox pitcher Chris Sale
FORT MYERS, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 17: Chris Sale #41 of the Boston Red Sox (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

Two top prospects bring Chris Sale to the Red Sox

Rare indeed is a point in baseball evaluation that the Red Sox have the top prospect in the game. In 2015, the Red Sox had just that with Yoan Moncada, a pricey free agent international signing from Cuba. The Red Sox also had the sixth-ranked right-handed pitching prospect in the flamboyant and volatile Michael Kopech. Both were soon delivered to the Chicago White Sox for Chris Sale. The pattern of youthful promise for established professional credentials.

Sale is the complete package when constructing a pitching ace. The fastball is remarkable, his slider is fearsome, and a change that can quickly end the at-bat misery for an unfortunate hitter. The string bean thin Sale has an arm extension that just complicates the art of hitting Sale to the extreme. Then to finalize a close to pitching perfection is pinpoint accuracy with any pitch. This is the type of pitching tidbit that no cerebral functioning general manager can resist when available. A left-handed Martinez.

Sale’s first two seasons did not disappoint, but that second season showed the naysayers who saw his delivery as surgery in waiting correctly. Sale made 27 starts with the expected results – 12-4 and a 2.11 ERA and major league-best 2.27 SIERA. When needed most Sale came up pitching lame.

Sale was eventually relegated to the bullpen for the World Series against the Dodgers after one forgettable start. Redemption came in game five when Sale came in for the final out.  A most memorable whiff of Manny Machado to win the series. Without Sale, during the season the Red Sox would be viewing from the comfort of their homes.

Next. How much will it cost to sign Jake Odorizzi?. dark

Moncada had a .315 breakout season in 2019 and a .225 breakdown season in 2020. Moncada is just 25-years-old and has signed a five-year extension with the Pale Hose. As for Kopech, he has harnessed his 100 MPH fastball just in time to show his potential only to blow his arm out. Both Kopech and Sale will restart sometime in 2021.

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