Chris Sale. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
(WSCR) About a month ago, the White Sox announced starter Chris Sale would be heading to the bullpen due to elbow soreness.
White Sox manager Robin Ventura said that Sale would remain in the bullpen for the remainder of the season. Exactly one week after this announcement, Sale returned to the starting rotation.
Ventura joined The McNeil and Spiegel Show on Friday to discuss the confusion.
“The words that (Sale) was using to describe his elbow alarmed everybody,” Ventura said. “The first thing that you care about is him: How do you limit that? How do you take care of that? … When we reacted, we reacted quickly. It might not have been the best thing at the time to do that, but for him, it was about protecting him. I care about him as the pitcher that’s going to be here for a long time. So, I watch him carefully. As everybody has seen over the last few games, he’s special. Sometimes you overreact in a way where you want to protect him.”
LISTEN: Robin Ventura on The Mully and Hanley Show
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Through 11 starts this season, Sale has a 7-2 record with a 2.30 ERA. The White Sox are cautious of Sale and believe he will be mainstay on the South Side.
The idea of limiting the left-hander’s innings this season has been discussed.
“It’s been talked about, but right now, I just want him to pitch,” Ventura said. “… I want him to have the mentality of a regular starter like everyone else.”
