NEW YORK --- Looks like Chris Sale will have to hold off plans to furnish his new house a little longer.
The starting pitcher is one of the White Sox players to be named to the July 9 All-Star Game along with first baseman Paul Konerko and designated hitter Adam Dunn. Sale was honored for the first time while its the sixth for Konerko, who has gone each of the last two seasons. Dunn was previously named to the National League All-Star team in 2002. Rosters were announced on Sunday afternoon.
White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy is also a candidate to make the team in the final vote contest.
Sale will have to shift gears. Instead of spending the break buying furniture for an offseason home in Florida he and his wife Brianne have purchased, Sale will take the family to Kansas City.
I guess Ill have to find another time to do that, but Ill sleep in an empty house for the first couple weeks of the offseason, Sale said. Thats fine with me.
Sale is 9-2 with an American League-leading 2.27 ERA. He will start Tuesdays home opener and pitch the first-half finale next Sunday too, which could make an actual appearance difficult. Earlier this week, Sale said he wouldnt ask the team to move him back to Wednesday because of the importance of the final week of action.
Sale still has the option of pitching Tuesday because of a rule in the new collective bargaining agreement. He said hell play that by ear, however.
MLB
If I feel good well go at it, Sale said. Obviously its something weve got to sit down and talk about a little bit more. Thats the last thing Im thinking about right now. Im just excited for the opportunity. Its something Ive dreamed about for a long time and its here.
Peavy will compete against Kansas Citys Jonathan Broxton, Texas Yu Darvish, the Los Angeles Angels Ernesto Frieri and Baltimores Jason Hammel in the final vote contest.