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 The Chicago White Sox have a 2010 first-round draft pick invested in left-hander Chris Sale. The organization has big plans for the 22-year-old pitcher.
One of those plans should be a ticket to Charlotte. If Sale's eventual place is in the role of starting pitcher, it may be time to start preparing him to do that down in Triple-A. A look at the season's first two months indicates that Sale's development is in danger of stagnating with the way he is currently being used. Case in point Sale's latest outing in Chicago's 8-3 win over the Dodgers. Ozzie Guillen has relegated Sale to mop-up status in the last few weeks and inserted him into a 6-1 game in relief of Edwin Jackson. After getting the last out of the sixth inning, he loaded the bases in the seventh and was charged with two earned runs. Sale's ERA is 6.32. He has not factored in a win, save or hold in nearly a month. In the month of May, Sale has not entered a game closer than four runs. Does Guillen have the confidence in Sale to use him in close ballgames? Right now that answer appears to be no. Sergio Santos, despite giving up his first runs and blowing a save on Friday night, is the closer for now. Jessie Crain and Matt Thornton are veteran arms capable of getting the ball to Santos. Jake Peavy is back, giving the White Sox a six-pack of starting pitchers. Where does Sale fit into the mix? How about a Charlotte Knights uniform? Sale has had some effective appearances this season, but Guillen isn't using him in a lot of tight situations right now. If he is going to be a starter in the future, I'd rather see him stretching out every fifth day in Triple-A as opposed to pitching in blowouts up in Chicago.
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