Just being back at Fenway Park this week has Chris Sale feeling energized. For the first time since earlier this season, he's around his teammates, back in a big league environment and his throwing sessions are progressing. A sense of urgency is, for the first time in a long while, apparent.
Last week, while in Fort Myers, he began throwing sliders and while the pitches lack movement and command, they're being thrown pain-free.
In fact, Sale is so buoyed by his rehab from Tommy John surgery some 15 months ago that he jokingly told manager Alex Cora that he's available next week when the team travels to Atlanta next week for interleague play.
"I want to hit,'' cracked Sale.
The reality, however, is that Sale is a long way from completing his journey. Just how far away was signaled by Cora in a Zoom call with reporters. As Cora watched Sale's bullpen Tuesday afternoon, joined by more a small army of similarly interested Red Sox officials, the manager sought some context.
By his own admission, Cora isn't a pitching expert. So he canvassed pitching coach Dave Bush and some of the athletic training staff and asked: What was he watching? How much effort was Sale putting into this? What was the degree of intensity?
"They kind of said, 'Well, it's a bullpen in January,''' revealed Cora. "So basically, they said: 'Don't get too excited.'''
In other words, Cora was told: On a normal baseball calendar, Sale, for all his hard work, is not yet where he would need to be for the start of spring training.
Sale was curt when Cora's assessment was relayed to him. Asked if the January reference indeed suggested he was more than months away from contributing, Sale offered no insight: "I couldn't tell you. If it was up to me, I'd be starting tomorrow... I'd like to be out there already. But from where I've started in spring training to where I am now, I've done everything I possibly could to put myself in the best position.''
Asked if he still expected to pitch this season, Sale was unequivocal: "Oh yeah, 100 percent.''
That confidence exhibited by Sale does not come with a timetable, however. And while the expectation at the start of the season might have foretold a return after the All-Star break, that now appears out of the question. Sale will eventually need a handful of minor league rehab appearances that, by definition, will take several weeks.
And if the January comp is accurate, Sale could be some two months away from being cleared to be activated, putting his return to the rotation well into August.
Interestingly, Sale also seemed to warm to the idea of pitching out of the bullpen -- at least initially -- if it means a quicker return to the major league staff.
"I haven't really thought about that, honestly,'' said Sale. "If they told me, 'Hey, we need a guy in the bullpen and we'll build you up there instead of having a rehab assignment,' hell, I would be game for that. The quicker I can get back on this team, I'd like that. But that's way above my paygrade and where I'm at right now. I'm focused on my next day and getting off the mound and whatever the next step is.''
He's also acutely aware of what can happen when a pitcher coming back from this procedure tries too much, too soon. New York Mets righthander Noah Syndergaard had to cut a rehab outing short two weeks ago when he felt pain in his elbow. As eager as he is to return, Sale understands that certain protocols have to be observed.
"I know how deflating that must have been for him,'' said Sale. "Stuff like that comes up and that makes you appreciate where you are. Like I said, take it a day at a time and don't get too far ahead of yourself.''
"I'm appreciative of where I'm at,'' he said, "so I'm not going to push it. I'm doing everything I can to make (my return) as soon as possible. I can't put myself in the lineup. I can't take myself off the IL. All I can do is tell these guys how I feel and work my butt off on a daily basis. That's what I have to focus on."
Next up: throwing some live batting practice, which could come at the end of this homestand, or on the next road trip. The baby steps continue.
"You guys are talking about a month, two months from now,'' said Sale. "I've got today and we'll see what tomorrow brings.''
But if the date for his return is beyond his control, Sale leaves no doubt about the expectations he has for himself -- whenever that date comes.
"I expect to be myself, be the guy that I've always been,'' he said. "I fully expect to be who I am and do what I do at the highest level.''
