Boston Red Sox Mound Notes: The worst Chris Sale we’ve ever seen

Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale continues to struggle to start the 2019 MLB season which has the dominate lefty searching for answers.

What in the world is wrong with Boston Red Sox ace Chris Sale?

With fans and analysts try to figure it out, the lanky lefty is searching for answers himself, especially following Tuesday’s 7-5 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in the team’s home opener.

While velocity is still an issue, there seems to be something else going on with Sale.  Even in just allowing one run in the second of his three early starts this season, the Red Sox ace hasn’t looked like his dominant self.  With the loss, Sale is now 0-3 with a 9.00 ERA and that dismal record has been magnified by the team’s overall 3-9 start to the 2019 MLB season.

More from Chowder and Champions

• 3 Midseason Chaim Bloom Decisions That Have Killed the 2023 Red Sox
• 10 Patriots Who Will Be Cut by Tuesday’s Roster Deadline
• MLB Screws Red Sox Fans With Broadcast for Mookie Betts Return
• 3 Most Underpaid Celtics Heading Into the 2023 Season
• Red Sox Continue Rollercoaster Season With Massive Win

Fenway was supposed to solve all problems, but in dropping the home opener with Chris Sale struggling once again, perhaps it’s beyond the World Series hangover we all want to imagine.  Maybe it just comes down to a lack of mental focus or even confidence.

Add to the fact that Sale signed a contract extension with the team, there is even more pressure for him to turn it around, not only for himself, but to catapult the defending World Series champions back into their winning ways.

"“I’m trying to find something,” Sale said following the game, via MLB.com.  “I’m working.  That only goes so far.  This isn’t the hard-work league.  This is the do-good league.  Got to start going out there and performing.”"

Not an easy fix

The most frustrating part for Chris Sale is that the team played well enough to win had he been himself on the mound.  Furthermore, if he continued to pitch the way he did after the first two innings of the game, the concern about Sale would’ve all but disappeared.

But, the lack of velocity in his fast ball and giving up five runs following that second inning has Sale scratching his head as it doesn’t appear to be some nagging shoulder injury holding him back.

"“If I knew what it was, I’d fix it,” Sale said when asked about turning his struggles on the mound around.  “That’s kind of where I’m at, it’s spinning my tires.  Looking at this, looking at that.  See if I’m tipping pitches, seeing if my mechanics, if it’s this, if it’s angles, still searching.  But I’ll find it.  I know who I am, I know what I can do.”"

That mental toughness is what makes Chris Sale the competitor he is.  He just needs the physical capability to catch up before the season completely spirals out of control.  With the rest of the starting rotation struggling as well, the season really does rest on the shoulder of the usually dominant Boston Red Sox lefty.

All eyes on Nathan Eovaldi

With Chris Sale struggling to win ballgames, all eyes turn to Nathan Eovaldi to try to turn the season around for the Boston Red Sox.

In his first return to Fenway Park following his heroic efforts in the playoffs and World Series, Eovaldi should get a blazing ovation.  Hopefully, that will motivate him to pitch better than he has in the last two games.

Also searching for his first win of the season, the hard-throwing righty has an 8.10 ERA over his first two starts and looks to find the command on the mound and consistency he had in the team’s World Series run.

Nathan Eovaldi will face Toronto Blue Jays righty Aaron Sanchez in the second game of the opening series at Fenway Park.