Jump to content

Is Chris Sale the best pitcher that the Sox have ever had?


Recommended Posts

I know there have been many amazing pitchers that the Sox have had over the years like Walsh, Lyons, Buehrle, Wood, Danks, etc, but do you guys think that Sale is the best pitcher to ever play for the Sox?

 

His talent has to be at or near the top of the list, but I'm not sure if he's pitched long enough to be mentioned with the greats.

 

What do you guys think?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 60
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Top Posters In This Topic

Yeah, Walsh is really the only guy that comes close. Maybe Pierce. Most of our pitchers have been so overrated by us Sox fans... LaMarr Hoyt, Jack McDowell, Mark Buehrle, etc. are so much worse than SoxTalk posters seem to think. Don't get me wrong, they're good, but their stats really aren't great.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Aug 27, 2015 -> 12:59 AM)
Yeah, Walsh is really the only guy that comes close. Maybe Pierce. Most of our pitchers have been so overrated by us Sox fans... LaMarr Hoyt, Jack McDowell, Mark Buehrle, etc. are so much worse than SoxTalk posters seem to think. Don't get me wrong, they're good, but their stats really aren't great.

Hoyt would have been an icon in Chicago history if not for Dybber. Hoyt was 24-10 that 1983 year with a 3.66 ERA. If Dybber doesn't mess up the series is 2-2 and Sox EASILY win the Sunday game to take that series behind Hoyt. Then they continue steaming to a WS title. They won 99 games that year. I'm surprised that what ultimately happened that season is not discussed as one of the biggest chokes ever by a team.

 

Sale is amazing, though. If he stays healthy he'll be best Sox starter ever. He really ought to ask experts about his delivery. Longevity is all that may escape Mr. Sale. he is superb.

Edited by greg775
Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 26, 2015 -> 09:12 PM)
Hoyt would have been an icon in Chicago history if not for Dybber. Hoyt was 24-10 that 1983 year with a 3.66 ERA. If Dybber doesn't mess up the series is 2-2 and Sox EASILY win the Sunday game to take that series behind Hoyt. Then they continue steaming to a WS title. They won 99 games that year. I'm surprised that what ultimately happened that season is not discussed as one of the biggest chokes ever by a team.

 

Sale is amazing, though. If he stays healthy he'll be best Sox starter ever. He really ought to ask experts about his delivery. Longevity is all that may escape Mr. Sale. he is superb.

Well that and cocaine.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (greg775 @ Aug 26, 2015 -> 09:12 PM)
Hoyt would have been an icon in Chicago history if not for Dybber. Hoyt was 24-10 that 1983 year with a 3.66 ERA. If Dybber doesn't mess up the series is 2-2 and Sox EASILY win the Sunday game to take that series behind Hoyt. Then they continue steaming to a WS title. They won 99 games that year. I'm surprised that what ultimately happened that season is not discussed as one of the biggest chokes ever by a team.

 

Sale is amazing, though. If he stays healthy he'll be best Sox starter ever. He really ought to ask experts about his delivery. Longevity is all that may escape Mr. Sale. he is superb.

 

Check my post in the most hated thread. The Orioles talked about how they felt they had no chance against Hoyt in a game 5.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Walsh played from 1904-1917, it's really difficult to compare two pitchers across two completely different eras. That being said, I'd give the edge to Sale because Walsh played against only white players. The talent pool today (which includes players from all over the world, not just black players) is just so much bigger.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (Jose Abreu @ Aug 26, 2015 -> 11:59 PM)
Yeah, Walsh is really the only guy that comes close. Maybe Pierce. Most of our pitchers have been so overrated by us Sox fans... LaMarr Hoyt, Jack McDowell, Mark Buehrle, etc. are so much worse than SoxTalk posters seem to think. Don't get me wrong, they're good, but their stats really aren't great.

 

i'd take issue with buehrle being included here. the guy has been remarkably consistent for an extended period of time, thrown a no-no and perfect game and has a ring. i don't think he's a hall of famer, but if he decided to pitch another five or six years (which i think he could, but won't) i think he'd have numbers that would put him in the hof conversation. he's never been the most dominant pitcher, but there are few who can match the extended consistency he's had.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Sale is the best peak I have ever seen with the White Sox. Before I would call him best ever for the franchise, I want to see him hold that peak for a number of years. Guys like Ted Lyons and Ed Walsh dominated their eras. Walsh actually still holds an all-time lead on Sale in ERA+ at 146 to 142. Walsh also leads in FIP, which Sale doesn't even break the top 10 on. Ed Walsh is also a Hall of Famer.

 

Sale can get there, and is well on his way, but for my two cents, best ever consideration takes a larger body of work.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (thedoctor @ Aug 27, 2015 -> 10:45 AM)
i'd take issue with buehrle being included here. the guy has been remarkably consistent for an extended period of time, thrown a no-no and perfect game and has a ring. i don't think he's a hall of famer, but if he decided to pitch another five or six years (which i think he could, but won't) i think he'd have numbers that would put him in the hof conversation. he's never been the most dominant pitcher, but there are few who can match the extended consistency he's had.

 

Yeah, Mark;s chances for the HOF are directly tied to how long he wants to pitch. He's never had a stand out season, but here he is at 212 wins. If he can make a run at 300, does he make it?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 27, 2015 -> 10:49 AM)
Sale is the best peak I have ever seen with the White Sox. Before I would call him best ever for the franchise, I want to see him hold that peak for a number of years. Guys like Ted Lyons and Ed Walsh dominated their eras. Walsh actually still holds an all-time lead on Sale in ERA+ at 146 to 142. Walsh also leads in FIP, which Sale doesn't even break the top 10 on. Ed Walsh is also a Hall of Famer.

 

Sale can get there, and is well on his way, but for my two cents, best ever consideration takes a larger body of work.

Excellent post I agree.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 27, 2015 -> 09:03 AM)
Yeah, Mark;s chances for the HOF are directly tied to how long he wants to pitch. He's never had a stand out season, but here he is at 212 wins. If he can make a run at 300, does he make it?

If Mark wins 300, I think he's a first ballot hall of famer. I realize in this stat world, wins don't receive the value they once did, but 300 wins is still an extremely impressive accomplishment, especially in this era where starters pitch less and less. I hope Mark makes the hall. Easily my favorite player, for the way he approached the game to the speed at which he pitched. If Manfred wanted to solve baseballs issue with game speed, he'd force every pitcher in baseball to model their approach after Mark. I don't get nostalgic about many guys, but Mark is one of them. A true class act on and off the field and the type of ballplayer you would want your kid to emulate.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 27, 2015 -> 12:10 PM)
If Mark wins 300, I think he's a first ballot hall of famer. I realize in this stat world, wins don't receive the value they once did, but 300 wins is still an extremely impressive accomplishment, especially in this era where starters pitch less and less. I hope Mark makes the hall. Easily my favorite player, for the way he approached the game to the speed at which he pitched. If Manfred wanted to solve baseballs issue with game speed, he'd force every pitcher in baseball to model their approach after Mark. I don't get nostalgic about many guys, but Mark is one of them. A true class act on and off the field and the type of ballplayer you would want your kid to emulate.

 

Buehrle is one of my all time favorite players. Everything about the guy is exactly what I love about the game of baseball.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (southsider2k5 @ Aug 27, 2015 -> 10:12 AM)
Buehrle is one of my all time favorite players. Everything about the guy is exactly what I love about the game of baseball.

I think Mark needs about 275 wins to secure a spot in the hall (or at least have a fighting chance). Anything less then that and I think it will be tough for him. He does have world series win, world series save, no hitter, and perfect game on his resume which helps (along with all star game's, etc). 5 time all star, 4 time gold glover (how it isn't more, I have no idea). But he has no cy young awards (best was 5th place) and no 20 win seasons. In fact, the most wins he ever had was 19 and then 3 16 win seasons and 1 15 win season (so 5 seasons out of 14 full seasons where he won at least 15 games). It could become 6 out of 15 as he is just 2 wins away from 15 wins this year.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

QUOTE (Chisoxfn @ Aug 27, 2015 -> 12:20 PM)
I think Mark needs about 275 wins to secure a spot in the hall (or at least have a fighting chance). Anything less then that and I think it will be tough for him. He does have world series win, world series save, no hitter, and perfect game on his resume which helps (along with all star game's, etc). 5 time all star, 4 time gold glover (how it isn't more, I have no idea). But he has no cy young awards (best was 5th place) and no 20 win seasons. In fact, the most wins he ever had was 19 and then 3 16 win seasons and 1 15 win season (so 5 seasons out of 14 full seasons where he won at least 15 games). It could become 6 out of 15 as he is just 2 wins away from 15 wins this year.

 

If Mark can push his numbers up for 5 or 6 more years, his case will be very similar to Don Sutton, who eventually was voted in.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...