Yankees Need A Pitcher ʺBerserkʺ Enough To Thrive In The Big City

The New York Yankees have a long tradition of unusual or intense starting pitchers thriving in the Bronx. Chris Sale might fit right in.

Back during his days with the Mets, former Yankees great David Cone remarked, “I am perhaps borderline berserk. But if you can get away with that anywhere, I think you can in New York. I think New York understands borderline berserk. I think New York respects borderline berserk.”

Despite the tongue in cheek humor, Cone is right. It does take a special mentality to pitch in the big apple. There is a bigger pressure to succeed, and if you don’t hear it from the fans at Yankee Stadium, you are bound to hear it from the press. There is simply no place else like it.

Over the years, the Yankees have acquired several pitchers, who may be berserk in ways, but not the kind that translates to success in New York. Pitchers such as Eddie Whitson, Steve Trout, Jeff Weaver, and Kevin Brown fall into that category.

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Both Doyle Alexander and Javier Vazquez twice found out they weren’t cut out for this atmosphere. Even the “Big Unit”, Randy Johnson, was perplexed that media types would ask him questions regarding his performance. Then there was Carl Pavano, who decided it was better to stay permanently injured that face the heat.

When the Yankees consider which starters they’d like to acquire, they must consider the pitcher’s intestinal fortitude amongst other things. Success in a secondary market is one thing. But can he handle the expectations here?

The Yankees are in a unique position for themselves, having a farm system loaded with talent. With Thursday’s trade of Brian McCann to the Houston Astros, they have even added to that number. There is one pitcher who seems to pass all the tests that the Yankees could possibly want, and it’ll most likely take a large haul of young talent to get him.

The pitcher I’m referring to is Chris Sale of the Chicago White Sox. Sale is an edgy guy, no doubt. He once openly challenged White Sox Vice President of Operations over what he felt was Williams misleading the team regarding a situation that involved former first baseman Adam LaRoche and the presence of LaRoche’s son Drake in the clubhouse and locker room.

Another time, while the White Sox were hosting a retro themed night, Sale found displeasure in the team having to wear uniforms from the 1980’s era that he found undesirable. Sale simply took a pair of scissors and cut the uniform to ribbons. No more uniform, no problem. He was suspended for his antics but ultimately made his point. Chris Sale is not afraid to make his opinion known.

Could that type of passion and attitude succeed in New York? It doesn’t hurt that at age 27, he has compiled a 74-50 record with an era of 3.00. Yankee fans once embraced an edgy, wild child in David Wells.

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Chris Sale, if he can win here, will most likely get the same response. Perhaps, he would be even more warmly embraced. However, if he were to cost an arm and a leg in prospects, a slow start could lead to a downward spiral. Perhaps it would be like metaphorically cutting your career to ribbons.

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