Burdge: Sale Should Be Red Sox's Opening-Day Starter

Opening Day of the 2023 baseball season is just one week away and I could not be more excited. 

MLB teams are starting to wind down spring training and hype up the pomp and circumstance of Opening Day. Including the Red Sox, who reminded us on Twitter just today that we are a mere seven days from the start of a brand new season. 

For the Red Sox, this is a big one. The expectations are not high, so the desire to exceed them is through the roof. I, for one, have a lot of hope for this team and I think the Red Sox are going to surprise a lot of critics this year. Their World Series odds heading into this season are at +6000 at BetMGM. And don’t think I haven’t already put some money on that. 

It all begins with Opening Day. But there’s just one thing I’m not thrilled about when it comes to kicking off this season: I wish Chris Sale was Boston's Opening Day starter. 

Sale started Opening Day for the Red Sox in 2018 and 2019 before missing the 2020 season and the start of the last two seasons due to injuries. Now he’s healthy and finally ready to go, but he won’t be starting Opening Day.

Instead it will be Corey Kluber. 

Even just optics-wise, this is a letdown. Imagine the social media graphics and commercials promoting Opening Day at Fenway featuring Chris Sale in his triumphant return to the mound ahead of a year in which the Red Sox are looking to turn things around after a disaster in 2022. But Kluber is the guy instead. Nothing against Kluber, but that doesn’t really get my juices going as much as "The Return of Chris Sale" on the cover of the Opening Day programs at Fenway Park. 

When Cora said Sale is not starting on Opening Day, he said it is because he wants Sale to enjoy the day.

“I want him to enjoy (Opening Day) as a regular baseball player,” Cora said. “Just the whole Opening Day thing. Wherever he pitches in the rotation is where he’ll pitch in the rotation. I decided that like a month and a half ago, when we had that conversation."  

Now, Opening Day for the Red Sox is on March 30. It also happens to be Chris Sale’s 34th birthday. I highly doubt Sale asked for his birthday off from work, but that is an interesting coincidence. 

But then Sale said on The Bradfo Show podcast, “(Cora) told me a while ago, and honestly, I really appreciate it. He’s right, the last few opening days have been bittersweet for me, I guess. Opening Day is always a magical day, it’s Christmas for baseball players. When you don’t get to play, it’s like showing up to Christmas with no toys."

So he wants to feel like he got no toys on Christmas?! Shouldn't he enjoy the day by pitching in the game??

Sale is an incredibly important piece of this team this season, so whatever it takes to keep him healthy, I’m all for it. But Cora also said Sale will make his debut on April 1, which is only a couple days later. How much of a difference would those two days make if he just pitched on Opening Day instead? Shouldn't Sale be champing on the bit to get back on the mound in front of a Fenway Opening Day crowd for his return? 

I believe the Opening Day starter sets the tone for the season and it should be the face of the rotation that gets that honor. Kluber is not the face of this rotation. Sale is. And not only that, he’s finally, finally back from all the injuries and freak accidents he’s gone through. And you don’t give him the ball on Opening Day? 

Again, I am all in favor of anything to keep Sale healthy, but it’s a disappointment that he won’t be the starter on Opening Day.

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