Levine: Chris Sale Looking Forward To Possible All-Star Start
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- At age 27, White Sox ace Chris Sale has accomplished the impressive feat of making five straight trips to the All-Star Game.
And come next Tuesday in San Diego, Sale has a better than decent chance of being the American League starter. With 14-2 mark, 2.93 ERA and 0.98 WHIP, Sale has been the best pitcher in the AL this season.
The decision on who to start will be up to Royals manager Ned Yost, who will lead the AL.
"That is going to be up to Ned," White Sox manager Robin Ventura said. "He can decide that. Is (Sale) deserving as anyone else? He is at the top of the list with anybody in the American League."
A humble leader on his team, Sale would love to get that unique chance to be the man for the AL.
"It would be awesome and such a thrill," Sale said Wednesday. "I have been there and have seen the start of the game and what goes into it. I would be thrilled to do that and be honored."
The White Sox have had two other pitchers start the All-Star game -- Mark Buerhle in 2005 and Esteban Loaiza in 2003. In his journey to do so, Sale has done so much to change his style this season, using the two-seam fastball more for early contact.
That said, Sale's approach to NL hitters will be more old-school for a short stint in California.
"I am not going to reserve anything when I get in there," Sale said. "I fully intend on letting it (the fastball) eat when I get out there, whenever that is. It would be hard not to. You have a packed crowd and you're facing the best. You better bring it."
Sale will be the White Sox's lone representative in the All-Star Game. Meanwhile, the crosstown Cubs will feature seven players, including five position players. So a Sale matchup against some Cubs could loom.
"That would be a little weird," Sale said. "We will be facing them the next couple weeks after that. It would be fun."
Sale admitted that a change occurs after making your first All-Star Game.
"You can have a lot of people tell you how good you are," Sale said. "If you don't believe it, it's kind of a wash. I do think, sometimes, guys go in their (game) and they start believing in themselves. Other people can believe in you. When you start believing in yourself moving forward, that is what makes you a better player."
Of course, Sale has earned the All-Star respect. He's emerged as one of the top pitchers in all of baseball. In reaching the All-Star Game in the past five seasons, there was little doubt to his candidacy.
Sale has the full support of his teammates, as you could imagine.
"Playing behind him is special," third baseman Todd Frazier said. "It will be him going out there and attacking the day. He is a bulldog. He works fast getting us back in the dugout. We get some runs up. Away we go "
Cubs right-hander Jake Arrieta is a candidate to start for the NL with Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw injured. Cubs and White Sox pitchers have never opposed one another to start an All-Star Game.
"It would be great for the city," Sale said. "No doubt. Just like if we got to the end together. It would be crazy. Anything that could promote something positive for this city, I am in for it. It is good for the city of Chicago and would make it more fun for the baseball fans in the Midwest."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
