Levine: Chris Sale Still Hoping To Pitch In Opener
By Bruce Levine-
GLENDALE, Ariz. (CBS) -- White Sox ace Chris Sale is still holding out hope that he can pitch the first week of the baseball season. Sale revealed that an ankle strain was a part of the trauma in the fracture to the top of his right foot that's keeping him out several weeks in spring training.
"The foot is progressing," Sale said Saturday. "We got most of the swelling out of there and the bruising is coming up to the surface."
On his scheduled return, Sale said, "Right on track, I guess."
The injury that occurred on March 1 was projected to hold Sale back three weeks from all baseball related activity. In the meantime, Sale has a daily rehab routine laid out from the team's medical and training staff he must adhere to.
"I have a shoulder program, standing table stuff, wall throws, getting on my knees throwing," he said. "Working on upper body strength and under water treadmill stuff, bike."
What Sale is describing is low-impact training regime that compensates for the one foot that has been shut down. Sale is on a satisfactory road to recovery, according to sources. As to when he does make his first appearance in the regular season, that will be decided collectively by Sale and the White Sox brain trust.
"I was told a couple of weeks … a few weeks," Sale said. "I don't want to miss any regular-season time. I am doing everything I can to see how it will react and how it is going to react. We obviously will plan accordingly. I am doing everything I can to get to day one."
Day one could be Opening Day but more likely a bit later. The White Sox are looking at possible fifth starter candidates if Sale isn't ready in the first week or 10 days of the season. The team has three off days in the first 10 days of the schedule so, that allows for some creativity in rotation assignments.
"All I know is the foot is still sore when I put a lot of pressure on it," Sale said. "We are just doing everything we can to be ready."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
