Chris Sale has officially joined the already formidable pitching rotation of the Atlanta Braves, further solidifying their top-heavy staff for the upcoming 2024 season. With Spencer Strider, Max Fried, and Charlie Morton already commanding respect as starters, Sale’s addition elevates their pitching game even more.
Unlike his previous tenure in Boston, where he was declared the Opening Day starter by manager Alex Cora back in October, Sale arrives in Atlanta with the top of the rotation already secured.
In a light-hearted and entertaining interview on the show Foul Territory, Sale playfully responded to a sarcastic question about being the fourth starter in the Braves’ rotation. He quipped, “I can go out and suck, and no one’s gonna hate me now,” delivering the remark with a grin.
Reflecting on his journey from Boston, Sale shared, “When I first got to Boston, I think I was third or fourth. It went Rick (Porcello), DP (Drew Pomeranz), yeah. So seven years later, I only fell one spot. That’s not terrible.”
Transitioning to a more serious tone, Sale emphasized his love for being a key player in the team. He expressed, “I enjoy being a guy. I love going out there and competing. The most pressure-packed situation, hand me the ball, I want it the whole night. But at the end of the day, in terms of where I get slotted, where I’m pitching, whose pitching in front of me, whose pitching behind, what letter day of the week, what number day of the week, it doesn’t matter. Hand me the ball, put some guys in the field behind me, and let’s find a way to win. If anything, it should be motivating.”
Fans and baseball enthusiasts can catch the full interview to get more insights from Sale here: