This isn’t only a delicate adjustment; it is a full evolution in his technique. His slider, now his go-to pitch, has a putaway proportion of 28.7 p.c, the very best amongst all his pitches and a key to his success this season.
It’s simple to miss Sale’s season in a league obsessive about velocity. He doesn’t have the 98 mph warmth that when made him feared, however he is proving that there is extra to pitching than pure velocity.
Sale is flourishing by outsmarting hitters, crafting at-bats the place they’re compelled to respect his mastery of motion and placement. Not capable of cover his slider as a misleading shock, Sale has tailored. Even with out the benefit of shock, his success speaks to his precision and understanding of hitters’ tendencies.
The Braves’ choice to tackle Sale’s contract wasn’t with out danger. Sale had struggled with accidents over the previous few seasons, and plenty of believed his greatest years have been behind him.
However in a season the place Atlanta’s roster has been hit arduous — with Spencer Strider and Ronald Acuna Jr. each lacking important time — the Braves wanted a gradual arm to anchor their rotation. Sale has crammed that position to perfection.
Atlanta is at the moment tied with the Mets for the ultimate wild-card slot, and with out Sale’s contributions, it won’t even be within the hunt, given the pitcher is value 5.9 bWAR, which leads the majors.
Even Braves supervisor Brian Snitker has been amazed by Sale’s resurgence. “How he does what he does is superb to me,” Snitker told MLB.com’s Mark Bowman after Sale’s season-high 113-pitch effort.
What Sale’s success highlights is a bigger concern in how groups worth gamers right this moment. As youthful gamers on team-friendly contracts rise via the ranks, older veterans typically see their worth decline merely due to their price ticket.
Sale, as an example, was traded as a part of a wage dump, a transfer that appeared extra about monetary flexibility than efficiency potential. But right here he’s, displaying that groups could also be prematurely overlooking the worth of expertise, particularly in key positions like beginning pitching.
It’s additionally a reminder that baseball is about extra than simply energy and velocity. Sale’s command, his skill to reinvent himself mid-career and his management on a group preventing for a playoff spot show that the veteran arm nonetheless has a spot in right this moment’s recreation.
The Braves rolled the cube on Sale — and it’s trying like the most effective wager they’ve made all season.
