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MLB All-Star Game: Was Chris Sale the Right Choice to Start for the AL?

By JJ Keller

Jun 21, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 21, 2016; Boston, MA, USA; Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) pitches during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chris Sale, left-handed pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, will start the 2016 MLB All-Star Game for the American League. Was he the right choice?

Whether you agree with the way All-Stars are chosen in MLB, no matter how much you may disagree with the selections, I think everyone can agree it’s a great honor, especially for the players. These are already the best in the world, but being an All-Star means they are the best of the best.

For a starting pitcher, there is an even bigger honor than simply being on the team, and that’s getting the chance to start the game for your league. They usually don’t end up pitching much more than the others, but generally the starter is the best of the best of the best that year.

This year, American League Manager Ned Yost named White Sox lefty Chris Sale as his starter, and while there is generally some controversy regardless of who is chosen, I am surprised at the lack of it this year, at least that I have seen. Sale is certainly a great pitcher, but he hasn’t been so dominant that he was the obvious choice.

The fact is, American League pitchers haven’t been great this season. Last year, American League starters combined for a 4.14 ERA and 4.10 FIP. So far this year, they have a 4.51 ERA and 4.49 FIP. Sale led the AL in FIP in 2015 at 2.73; five others were also under 3.00. This year, the AL leader is Corey Kluber at 2.95, and no others come in under 3.00. In fact, second place is Masahiro Tanaka, all the way up at 3.31. Sale is 11th at 3.74.

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In terms of ERA, last year’s leader was David Price at 2.45 — this year it’s Steven Wright at 2.68. Danny Salazar, Marco Estrada and Aaron Sanchez are also under 3.00. Sale once again comes in at 11th at 3.68.

You could certainly make the case for a few guys over Sale — maybe even every other starter on the AL roster. Salazar would probably be my pick, based on his combo of both ERA and FIP, but he wasn’t a clear choice either and had to withdraw due to injury anyway. Sale has the track record and name recognition that the others on the roster — besides maybe Kluber — really don’t, and he is going to get points for that.

With all that considered, I am okay with the selection. It probably wasn’t the best choice if we assume the starter should be whoever has been the best pitcher in their league for that year, but when you can make an argument for just about every starter on the roster, there isn’t really a bad choice. I think this allows the manager to consider things outside of the last three months of performance.

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I’d be curious to know your thoughts on the situation. Who would you have chosen? Are you okay with the Sale choice?

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