Chicago White Sox: Can Chris Sale Succeed in the Starting Rotation?

On Wednesday, Chicago White Sox general manager Kenny Williams announced that Chris Sale will be part of the White Sox starting rotation for the 2012 season. This signifies one shifted piece for the coming season. Sale had been expected to be part of the rotation as questions loomed about who would hang around among the starters.

Sale joins what currently seems to be a questionable White Sox rotation. The two sure pieces are Phil Humber and Gavin Floyd. Humber did fairly well last season, finishing with a 9-9 record and a 3.75 ERA in his first season as a starter. Floyd is unremarkable, having only pitched one season with an ERA below 4.00.

At least one can say he can pitch a full season, and, perhaps, do a decent job.

John Danks and Mark Buehrle are question marks. Buehrle, a free agent, is fielding offers from numerous teams. Whether the White Sox can persuade him to stay at a bargain rate remains to be seen. 

Danks might be traded. A few teams, including the Texas Rangers and Cincinnati Reds, are interesting in trading for Danks, according to the Chicago Tribune. Such a trade likely wouldn't bring a replacement for the starting rotation.

Jake Peavy is always in limbo. Peavy has struggled with injuries since the White Sox acquired him from the Padres. One can hardly count on him to start 30 games.

Zach Stewart or Dylan Axelrod might join the rotation. That isn't reassuring, considered neither claimed ERAs better than 4.50 in their handful of starts.

Inquiring minds want to know if Sale can help Humber, Floyd and any other eager helpers hold up the drooping tent that is the White Sox starting rotation.

Sale Will Sail Breezily

Sale progressed very well in his first two years with the White Sox. He was phenomenal in his partial first season with the White Sox. Sale posted a 1.93 ERA and struck out 32 batters in 23 .1 innings pitched in 2010. His debut came a little more than two months after being drafted.

In his second season, Sale performed marvelously. He posted a 2.79 ERA and struck out 79 batters in 71 innings. As the White Sox struggled to find the right place for him, he saved eight games.

Sale is a remarkable commodity. He has too much value to sit in middle relief. Sergio Santos has settled into the closer role. Thus, he can't squirt into that area. Starting Sale seems sensible since it maximizes use of the 22-year-old left-hander.

Ergo, Williams made the move. Of course, Robin Ventura didn't make the decision since he's still arranging himself in the manager role. Besides, Williams is in charge, and he won't have Ventura calling shots.

Anyway, some may wonder whether Sale is ready for the starting role. White Sox fans have only seen Sale in relief appearances.

However, Sale has plenty of innings on his arm. In 2010, Sale pitched 136.2 innings between Florida Gulf Coast University, Single-A Winston-Salem, and the White Sox. That's a major stepping stone to build upon. Pitching 71 innings wasn't bad, nor was it a step back.

Sale should be able to give a good amount of service as a starter. Generally, pitchers are supposed to increase by 40 the number of innings they pitch more than their previous high.  Besides, numerous innings is hard on a pitcher's arm. 

If Sale only increases his innings pitched by 40, he would pitch 176.2 innings in 2012. That's a decent number. Williams might reasonably call on Ventura to give him an extra few innings, putting him past the 180-inning plateau. That would probably mean that Sale would start 30 games.

Hence, one can reasonably count on Sale pitching a full season—and pitching it well. Sale might have a bit of a challenge transitioning to the starting role. He'll have to find a way to make his pitches last. Also, he might have to do with less than the 10 strikeouts per nine innings rate he had last season.

Still, Sale could be able to burn a high number of batters.

Conclusion:  Sale Might Be the Most Reliable Part of the White Sox Starting Rotation

Williams is months away from setting the pieces for the 2012 starting rotation. In the coming weeks, Williams will have to put his arm around Buehrle and express the White Sox's affection to him. Also, he'll have to see what he wants to do with Danks.

At least Williams knows the White Sox have great value in Sale.

Sale might be the surest thing in the White Sox rotation. Stewart might be slippery. Humber may or may not have a good full season. Peavy might have his arm fall off.  Floyd may or may not have his best stuff.

Sale will bring the good stuff in 2012.