I must begin with this caveat: The whole Opening Day starter thing is an overrated, purely symbolic tradition. All but meaningless. It’s improbable the 2023 Red Sox season will come down to this one game.
Sox manager Alex Cora agrees, more or less.
Cora had this to say about Opening Day, “It’s one start,” said Cora. “Obviously, it’s a special one because it’s Opening Day, but after that, I think at one point nobody remembers who was the Opening Day starter. Everybody has to do their part regardless. The five guys are going to start, and then guys are going to join them later on.”
That said, I can all but guarantee the people complaining about Chris Sale not starting on Opening Day for the 2023 Red Sox are the same people that have been whining about Sale’s health for three years.
Why though?
If Sale is ‘washed up,’ ‘made of glass,’ whatever, then, by the hypocrite’s logic, he’s not an ace anymore and certainly not the Red Sox’s best starter. Thus, he is undeserving of the Opening Day honor, no?
What’s the difference between Sale and Corey Kluber to them anyway? Both have had extensive injury problems in the last few seasons. Both are in their mid-to-late 30s. No one knows what to expect from either of them.
The decision should be a wash for the hypocrites.
Do the hypocrites really believe a done-for (in their minds) Sale starting game two instead of game one will make any difference? Because it won’t.
2023 Red Sox Opening Day Starter: It Doesn’t Matter
There hasn’t been much difference between Sale and Kluber since 2019. Including Sale’s last healthy season in 2019, he’s made 36 starts with a 4.09 ERA/3.43 FIP over 195.2 innings. 2022 was Kluber’s first healthy season since 2018. From 2019-2022, Kluber has 55 starts with a 4.36 ERA/3.71 ERA over 280.2 innings.
Kluber has more games and innings, but their ERA and FIP are similar. Kluber would deserve to be the starter on Opening Day more, then, right, hypocrites?
Well, he got the nod. Cora told him in January that he would start on Opening Day, “I talked to him right after orientation meetings — Winter Weekend,” Cora told reporters. “I gave him a call the next week and said, ‘Hey, you’re going to be my Opening Day starter. So whatever you have to do family-wise, structure-wise, be ready, you’re pitching that day.’ He appreciated that.”
Kluber had this to say about being the 2023 Red Sox’ Opening Day starter, “I’ve always looked at it as Opening Day is a fun day regardless of pitching or not. It’s a new season, all that stuff, at the same time, to pitch in Fenway, wearing this jersey, it’s an honor regardless of whether it’s Opening Day. After missing so much time over the last few years, I don’t take any chance to pitch in a major league game for granted. I try to treat them all the same and just appreciate it.”
Explaining his decision to push Sale back, Cora said, “I want him to enjoy Thursday (March 30, Opening Day) as a regular baseball player,” Cora said. “Just the whole Opening Day thing. Whenever he pitches in the rotation, he’ll pitch in the rotation. But I decided that like a month and a half ago.”
Chris Sale is more than ok with Cora’s decision, saying, “I think (Cora) didn’t want me to be over-amped for it and I think he truly just wants me to be able to soak in Opening Day, enjoy it, appreciate it for what it is and not have to worry about getting ready for a start. That’s why everyone loves him. He took baseball completely away from this equation and was thinking about me as a person, he was thinking about me not having to stress over getting ready for a start, game one of the year, this, that and the other thing. Breathe. Go have fun.”
The soon-to-be 34-year-old lefty fully understands where he’s at. He has been as open and honest about his situation as any player has ever been about literally anything. He’s also gained a better perspective being away from the game for so long and is one of the happiest people on the planet right now.
Sale continued, “Who am I to come in here and demand anything at this point?” Sale said of Cora’s decision. I mean seriously. I could have easily gotten a phone call this offseason saying, ‘Hey, we’re done with you,’ because it’s happened. You look at the last few years, the contracts and everything, there were guys in very similar situations as me that were cut loose. And (the Red Sox) want me to play for them still, so I appreciate that.”
Remember when Red Sox chairman Tom Werner called Sale out at Rafael Devers‘ extension presser? Of course, the Sox’ $27.5 million man took that as extra motivation.
Imagine Sale needing more motivation…
I don’t know about the hypocrites, but I’d rather Chris Sale be healthy and fully prepared for the 2023 season. There’s plenty left in his tank if appropriately managed. A healthy Corey Kluber is more than capable of being the 2023 Red Sox’ Opening Day starter.
Don’t be a hypocrite. Who the starter is on Opening Day for the 2023 Red Sox doesn’t matter much.
For daily Red Sox coverage, follow me on Twitter. For more MLB coverage, follow @BellyUpBaseball and check out Belly Up Sport’s other MLB content.
