Baseball Isn’t Boring
Pressers: Opening Day Starters Chris Sale, Garrrett Crochet React To Their Final Spring Training Starts
22 Mar 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What insights do Chris Sale and Garrett Crochet share about their final spring training starts?
you know my pitch count was kind of getting up there and then kind of figured some stuff out after the second inning and just was a little bit more efficient but it was good.
Did you have a specific focus coming into the day something you wanted to work on or just trying to build up still?
I mean I think you're always just kind of looking to pitch good no matter what it is you know each team brings a different challenge you know I just wanted to end spring on a positive note and Again, it was good to run into that early. I think I threw over 20 pitches in the first two innings. But to have that and be able to get through that and get back on track was nice.
Absolutely. I mean, I was even talking about it today.
Chapter 2: What specific focuses did Chris Sale have leading into his last spring training game?
I mean, I threw a change up to him, the one that he hit, you know, deep to center field, the second one, because I guess Roman hit one. And we both kind of looked at each other like, yeah, you almost got that one. But it's not surprising. I mean, who he is as a teammate, just the competitor.
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He is. And just the raw talent he's always had. You know, I'm not surprised by that at all.
When you've gone into, obviously, opening day starts and coming out of spring training, how does this one feel compared to other ones you've gone into? I mean, it's always nice to have a good one, right? How do you feel overall heading into this one?
I feel good. I'm excited, too. You know, I pitched opening day last year, but, you know, it's a little bit different when you do it at home. You know, an opening day start at home is special, and, you know, I'm excited for it.
You talked about this last year when you guys faced off at Fenway, but just from afar, your thoughts on Crochet and just how he's grown into a superstar over the last couple years?
Yeah, I mean, I think the first thing you think of is just kind of dominant. He's a true ace in this league. I mean, just the stuff he possesses, his poise on the mound, his demeanor, and that's not even before you get to talking about his pitching stuff, so... I keep an eye on him from afar. He's a fun guy to watch.
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Chapter 3: How does Chris Sale feel about his performance and pitch count during spring training?
You know, it's like Christmas. You know, you're never not looking forward to it. So, you know, I appreciate, you know, obviously the honor that comes with it. But, you know, just excited to kind of get out of here and start the season. Cora text you about anything? Usually he has a pretty good text about something. No, we caught up today.
I got here a little bit early and, you know, caught up with some of the guys over there. So I always enjoy it. Getting here a little bit early and catching up with the guys. Might be a good meme or something. I don't know. We spend a lot of time together. I still care a lot about those guys. I always enjoy going over there and catching up and shooting shit a little bit.
Awesome. I feel like it's been the story of my spring. Today I felt like I was at least on the attack. Not a pitch and good swings, and then I'm just like kind of passive for the next like 10 pitches, and then I'm back to screw it, and I'm just throwing again. I feel like there's too much of trying to pitch, and that's just not really my game.
Yeah, I mean, it seemed like you were like, you know, you were kind of grunting your way through like trying to like really lean into getting some VO and stuff.
Like, yeah, was it just like... It was more so just like an intent thing. Yeah. Like... I don't know. To be honest, I don't really have anything for you. I felt like today was kind of like the rest of spring. The line looks uglier than how it felt. It feels uglier than what I felt like I deserved. Whatever.
Is spring as a whole, if you look back on it, is there anything that concerns you, or is it just part of the buildup?
Part of the buildup? Yeah. would like to see the results, but I feel like I've been constantly taking steps forward. For me, too, and something I was just talking to Narvi about, it's like, I feel like when it comes to pitch selection right now, it's a lot of stuff that I don't do. That's not what I'm known for. It's not what got me to this point. You know, the one-two to Riley, change it.
i'd thrown a couple good ones so i said yeah sure let's throw it um you know behind in the count sweepers even count sweepers it's not a pitch that i want to throw in zone um you know i think too it's like once season picks up you get that that little bit more adrenaline a little bit more arm speed and it's like uh Everything's just a little bit crisper.
So you think he's just trying different things on those counts as to... Yeah, yeah, yeah.
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Chapter 4: What are Chris Sale's thoughts on Garrett Crochet's development as a pitcher?
Where are you at with the change, with that correction?
I'm pretty forceful with it. I feel like that's, you know, like even today, I probably threw like eight of them over 80 pitches. It's not a 10% pitch for me. At the end of the day, like, it's situational for me. It's, you know, runners on second and third with two outs. I'm probably going to try and throw three fastballs by you before I go anywhere else.
And today it was like, you know, I felt like in that moment versus Riley, I was doing that. And then it was the passive change-up, and then it was, well now what the fuck do I do, you know?
When we asked Alex what he was looking for from you today, the first thing he said was just get to the sixth inning.
He said zeros probably.
He said just get to the sixth inning.
Yeah, yeah, no, that was huge. You know, my last one was obviously the backfield start. So I had to finish out here on the bullpen mound just because, you know, those guys need to work too. But, yeah, it's always nice to check the box in terms of ups, in terms of pitch count. Yeah.
Are your nerves heading into an opening day start any different now that this is not your debut as a team?
Not really. Still want to do well.
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