Braves’ Chris Sale brushes off Hall of Fame expectations following NL Cy Young Award win
2024 National League Cy Young Award winner Chris Sale has downplayed the talks of becoming a Hall of Famer after winning this pitching award.
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Chris Sale (Image via Battery Power)
Atlanta Braves pitcher Chris Sale had one of his best seasons in 2024. The 35-year-old won the National League Comeback Player of the Year award after going 18-3 in his 29 starts. This saw him being crowned the NL Cy Young Award this week which has sparked talks about him being a Hall of Famer now.
The pitcher though has brushed off these expectations. In a recent appearance at the Foul Territory podcast, Sale downplayed this topic instantly.
The veteran southpaw admitted that he was not expecting to win a Cy Young Award at the start of the season. He though backed himself and added that he knew he needed to stay healthy throughout the season to perform better.
No, not as it sits right now. I would say I wasn’t expecting to do this right? To win a Cy young Award, that was probably a little bit aggressive, but I had confidence in myself. I just knew I needed to be healthy. I know what I can do when I’m healthy.
Chris Sale said on Foul Territory podcast
Chris Sale doesn’t think he’s a Hall of Famer. pic.twitter.com/Txmw3DbEOe
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) November 23, 2024
This showing from Sale also came at a time after the Braves were dealt a massive blow. At the start of the season, Spencer Strider was diagnosed with an Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) tear in his right elbow. This saw the 26-year-old miss the rest of the 2024 season.
Sale stepped up and led the National League in terms of wins (18), strikeouts (225), and earned runs average (2.38) This saw him win the league’s Triple Crown title as well. At the age of 35, he is the fifth oldest first-time winner of this award as well.
Chris Sale takes a massive dig at Chicago White Sox
In his appearance at the Foul Territory podcast, Chris Sale took a massive dig at the Chicago White Sox. While speaking with his former AJ Pierzynski, the 35-year-old did not hold back against his former team.
On the podcast, Sale would label his ex-team as the “worst team in the history of the game“. Sale only lost three games this year but one of these was against the White Sox in June.
Despite a strong pitching performance which saw him pick 11 strikeouts, the Braves were shut down by the AL Central team and lost the game 1-0.
I obviously had the best year of my career, win the CY Young, and one of my losses was to the worst team in the history of the game.
Chris Sale said at Foul Territory podcast
Chris Sale bringing the heat on #FTLive ?️
— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) November 21, 2024
"Obviously had the best year of my career, win the CY Young, and one of my losses was to the worst team in the history of the game" pic.twitter.com/WuaU0Z2T6s
The 2024 season was one to forget for the White Sox. The team had a 14-game and then a 21-game losing streak this year. They eventually wrapped up the season with some wins at the end which took their record to 41-121. Their 121 losses set a new record in the MLB though for the most losses in a single 162-game season.
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Vinay Dave
(1740 Articles Published)