By Connor McKnight, WLS-AM 890 Sports
(GLENDALE, Ariz.) Out on the backfields at Camelback Ranch, White Sox starters Chris Sale and Mat Latos took the hill and threw to living, breathing, honest-to-God baseball players.
There was, however, an L-screen between them. The Turtle batting cage hung over home plate and there wasn’t an infielder or outfielder to be seen.
Still, we’re getting close.
After his session, Sale talked with the media about the White Sox decision to push his Cactus League starts back and–to a point–limit them altogether. For Sale, the offseason and Spring Training aren’t so much about relearning his location and feel but more so about building up strength in both his core and shoulder.
Last spring, Sale’s routine consisted of mostly rehab work for a broken foot. That hiccup cost him a week or two at the start of the season but may have helped him better understand his body. He learned that he doesn’t necessarily have to pitch as much in the offseason and Spring Training. Instead, controlled outings where the work is more “focused” help him prepare for Opening Day.
There’s no doubt that, for White Sox fans, it’s a bit a of a bummer that the wait for Chris Sale in live action will be a bit longer. The Sox are targetting a start about March 19th (which would be a comfy home start against the Dodgers). Still, there’s plenty more to watch and figure out as Spring Training moves on. Things like how Mat Latos comes back from his 2015 season.
Watching Latos throw, with his big over the top delivery, was quite the contrast to Sale’s side arm slinging action. Under the careful eye of White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper, the hope is that Latos regains the form he found from 2010-2014. Part of that will be health as Latos is coming back from having work done on his left knee–his landing knee.
While Sale’s performance can very nearly be taken for granted come April, Latos’ development and improvement will be interesting to watch.
