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White Sox pitching coach knew Sale would be MLB's 'baddest-ass lefty'

Bob DeChiara / USA TODAY Sports

When the Chicago White Sox host the Boston Red Sox on Monday, left-hander David Price will be in the spotlight as he makes his season debut, but on Tuesday the focus shifts to the return of Chris Sale to Chicago's South Side.

Sale will make his first appearance at Guaranteed Rate Field since headlining a blockbuster trade between the White Sox and Red Sox in December as he pitches opposite former rotation mate Jose Quintana, who has since transitioned into the team's ace.

On Monday, while discussing Sale's return, White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper mentioned that he knew the lefty pitching phenom would be one of the game's best pitchers when he offered a rather boorish observation.

"Let me tell you this - when he was in the bullpen (with the White Sox in 2010-11), he was well on his way to being the baddest-ass lefty in the league" Cooper said, according to the Providence Journal's Tim Britton. "I can't speak for the National League because I don't see that much. But when Joe Mauer, a tough lefty, says this is the best lefty I've ever seen, that goes a long way."

Oh, how right he was.

Since transitioning into a starting role after the 2011 season, Sale has been one of baseball's most dominating pitchers, let alone left-handers.

He's made five straight All-Star appearances, - and is almost a certain lock for No. 6 after his start this season - has finished sixth or higher in Cy Young voting in five consecutive seasons, and has amassed more than 1,200 strikeouts in 158 starts.

He's only gotten better since coming to Boston - a sentiment Cooper is in full agreement with - as Sale's striking out an obscene 12.5 hitters per nine innings, including eight straight games with double-digit strikeouts, and owns a career-low 0.81 WHIP.

"No question (Chris Sale) is getting better," Cooper added, according to ESPN's Scott Lauber.

And what did Sale have to say about his return to Chicago?

"I had a lot of good times here, a lot of friends still over there...a lot of good memories here. It was fun walking back in," Sale said.

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