Chris Sale. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Chris Sale had a great first year with the Red Sox. He went 17-and-8 with a 2-90 ERA, and led the majors in innings and strikeouts on the way to being the AL Cy Young runner-up.
Year two in Boston's here for the six-time reigning All-Star, and he's eager for an even better year now that the new car smell's gone and he knows what to expect.
"I think last year, I came into Spring Training kind of too amped up, too ready to go," Sale said. "I think we're kind of looking for more of a gradual build-up instead of just kind of a heavy workload up front ... Last year was kind of crazy, being new. This year is more, not really getting acclimated, just kind of running through the same stuff."
Sale was elite out of the gate with a 1-38 ERA his first 6 starts - a stark contrast to his 4-30 mark his last 8.
The southpaw wouldn't admit to being fatigued, but he said he's working with the organization to put a plan in place to ensure he doesn't fade late this time.
"I felt like I had something to prove last year too," Sale said. "I'm here in a new city with a new team, I felt like I had to kind of prove myself again. I'm confident, obviously, in the people I have in my corner, and I'm confident in myself to stay on track."
Boston's first exhibition action's a week from today.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman reports