Levine: Chris Sale Makes History, Calls Jake Arrieta The Best Pitcher In Baseball
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Every time White Sox ace Chris Sale takes the mound, something historic may happen. Case in point: Thursday evening.
In spinning a four-hit complete game in a 2-1 victory against the Astros, Sale improved to 9-0 and became the first White Sox pitcher in 97 years to win his first nine starts of the season. In the scandalous Black Sox season of 1919, Ed Cicotte turned the trick as well.
What made the aftermath of his start so interesting was Sale saying he's not the best pitcher in baseball or even in Chicago for that matter.
"He is as good as it gets right now," Sale said of Cubs ace Jake Arrieta. "He is by far the best pitcher in baseball. Right now there really isn't that much of an argument about that."
So how does a pitcher who's 9-0 with a 1.58 ERA and a 6.2-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio call another pitcher the best right now? Sale counts the ways for you on his Arrieta love.
"Watching what he does and how he does it, the command he has of the game," Sale said. "Even when things start getting a little out, he can bring it back in. His ability to do that and ability to pitch and mix it up is great."
Don't let the flattery fool you. There's nothing Sale would love more than a chance to outpitch Arrieta and beat a rival. That will be tabled until at least July, when the two teams meet on four consecutive nights. No one knows for sure if that Sale-Arrieta matchup will be in the cards, but everyone can dream.
"Anybody would want to face him being the best," Sale said. "To be the best, you have to beat the best. I think it would make for a great game. I think the rivalry will be even more intense this year. I believe there will be a lot more energy in the ballparks when we are playing each other."
In halting his team's four-game losing streak, Sale tossed his third complete game of the year, striking out nine and walking none. The White Sox improved to 25-16 and 2.5 games ahead of the Indians in the AL Central race.
"You are seeing somebody special," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said of Sale. "Anywhere you go and there is somebody special throwing on the mound, there is a packed house and there is a buzz."
Sale threw 107 pitches.
"I was certainly more of a max-effort pitcher last year," Sale said. "Sometimes in the past out there on a 0-0 pitch, I'd try to throw it as hard as I can. Sure thing it would be 1-0 after that. I would get into deep counts like that. I have confidence in the defense and that they will make the plays behind me. They have."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.