A Night in the American League

Every night The Big Guy breaks down the action in the American League.

Biggest Win

Tigers 4-White Sox 2: Detroit pulled within 1/2 game of the AL Central lead Friday. The Sox continued to fall, 4-6 in their last ten, as Detroit continued to climb, 8-2 in their last ten. Tigers ace Justin Verlander went 8 IP, 2 ER, 4 H, 6 K as he outdueled fellow Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy, who allowed 4 ER over 7 IP. The White Sox #3-4 hitters, Adam Dunn and Paul Konerko, combined to go 0-8 while Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder, Detroit’s #3-4, went 4-8 with 2 RBI.

Best Hitter

Behind 20-year-old center fielder Mike Trout and the thunderous Mark Trumbo, Albert Pujols continues to heat up. Pujols went 3-4, 2B, R on Friday and kicked his batting average up to .281, the highest since April 19. After hitting .217 in April, Pujols hit .263 in May, .326 in June and is hitting .345 in July. Pujol’s three hits fueled the Angels past the division rival Texas Rangers, 5-1. The Angels currently lead the Wild Card and appear to be a lock for the playoffs. When Trout inevitably cools off, look for Pujols to keep Los Angeles winning.

Best Pitcher

Toronto lefty starter Aaron Laffey went 7 IP, 0 ER, 8 H, 4 K as he picked up his second win of the season over the Boston Red Sox. The 27-year-old converted reliever did not make a single start in 47 appearances last season. After four relief appearances this season, Toronto converted Laffey back to a starter, something he has been since breaking into the majors with Cleveland in 2007. Laffey may not have dominated the Red Sox lineup, but scattering hits is a sign of a clutch pitcher. As the only team below .500 in the AL East at 46-47, Toronto needs to win now if they are going to make a Wild Card push.

Stat to know

Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Tommy Milone has allowed 2 ER or less in 13 of his 19 starts this season. The 25-year-old lefty rookie is 9-6 this seasonw ith a 3.34 ERA and 1.20 WHIP. Milone was part of the trade that sent starting pitcher Gio Gonzalez to the Washington Nationals on December 23, 2011.

Tomorrow’s Note

White Sox stud Chris Sale, 11-2 2.11 ERA, takes the mound as Chicago battles Detroit with the AL Central lead on the line. Detroit will throw 23-year-old Rick Porcello. Already in his fourth major league season, Porcello sports a 4.66 ERA with a 6-5 mark. After a 14-9 season with a 2.2 WAR as a 20-year-old, Porcello has never posted a season with a WAR above 1.0.

Chris Sale vs. Johan Santana

I have heard many people starting to talk about the comparison of young Chris Sale to Randy Johnson, but when you look at the numbers they are not the same pitcher. a better comparison would be Johan Santana. Randy Johnson was a 6’11,left handed, flame throwing, late blooming star, who did not have a career winning record until he was 29. Johnson was a wild throwing pitcher who led the league in walks from 1990-1992. Johnson also led the league in hit batters in 1992-1993. Johnson finally figured out his control at the age of 29 and never walked more then 86 batters in a season after 1992. Sale has already figured out the strike zone. In his first 3 years, Sale has 213 strikeouts while walking just 26. Sale is young and ready to be a star in for the White Sox. It took Johnson until he was 26 to have his first winning season.

Now lets battle between Sale and Santana

The Chicago White Sox brought up Chris Sale at the age of 21, and used him mainly as a 7th-8th inning role, getting just 12 saves over his first two seasons. In 2012 Sale was originally going to be the White Sox closer until his first blown save. Sale was then brought up to the starting rotation where he is now 11-2

The Minnesota Twins brought up Johan Santana at the age of 21 as well, and used Johan as a reliever for his first 2 and a half years until Santana would be put into the starting rotation. In 2003 Santana got his chance to finally stay in the lineup and went 12-3 finishing 7th in CY young award standings. Santana had a plus fastball, plus slider, and a plus change up.

Santana led the league in WHIP in his first 4 seasons in the starting rotation, and strikeouts the first 3 seasons. Sale is currently 3rd in WHIP, and 12th in strikeouts, but Sale is still a year ahead of Santana in age before being put into the starting rotation. Sale has a plus fastball, plus slider, good curveball, and a good change up.

There are still many questions to be asked before Chris Sale can officially start being compared to all-stars like Johan Santana and Randy Johnson. I believe that Chris Sale will have a great career, and in the in he should have the numbers to talk about being compared to anyone.

Coach Tom

Look at Me Now!!!

Chris Sale 2007

     Lets meet Chris Sale. A  6’6 180lb, 23 year old lefty from Lakeland, FLorida. He went to Lakeland Senior high school. Sale won  2006 17U/07 WWBA Grad. National Championship, 2006 18U/06 WWBA Brad. National Championship, 2007 PG BCS 18u Florida Regional. He had a chance after to graduation to go to the Colorado Rockies in the 23rd round of the MLB draft, but chose to go to Florida Gulf Coast University in Fort Myers, Florida. Sale played two years at Florida Gulf University, where in his second year he went 11-0 with a 2.01 ERA.

      Chris Sale was drafted 13th overall by the Chicago White Sox in the 2010 MLB draft. Sale went to the Sox single A team, the Winston-Salem Dash, where he pitched in just 4 games in relief pitching just 4 innings, with a 2.25 ERA, and striking out 4. He then got called up to the White Sox triple A team, the Charlotte Kinghts, where he pitched in just 7 games pitching just 6.1 innings, but striking out 15 while giving up just 3 hits. Sale had a 2.84 ERA before being called up to the majors.

      With a 95+ MPH fastball, 85 MPH slider, 85 MPH change-up, and a big 65 MPH curveball all coming from the left side of the mound, Sale was a definite need in the bullpen for the Sox. Sale spent his first two years with the Sox in the bullpen. In 2011 Sale even fluttered with getting the closer role and ended up with 8 saves on the season. The White Sox knew what they had in Sale was something special, and they had to protect their young arm.

       Then came 2012, where the then 22 year old was ready to be put in the starting rotation. Sale this season has been nothing but spectacular for the Chicago White Sox. Chris Sale is 11-2 on the season with a 2.11 ERA and has stuck out 102 while only walking 25 batters. Sale has won 8 games in a row giving up just 13 runs in 72.2 innings pitched, while striking out 69 batter, including a career high 15 on May 28th. Chris Sale is a serious contender for the cy young if all keeps up, and Sale is currently 1st in ERA(2.11), 2nd win win percentage(84), 3rd in wins(11) and WHIP(.98), and 9th in complete games with 1. Many are starting to compare Chris Sale to Randy Johnson, still early but we’ll wait and see.

Coach Tom