For those trying to figure out the date when Chris Sale will be returning, Dave Bush (or anybody else, for that matter) is giving a timetable.
But the words coming from the Red Sox' pitching coach Sunday morning should have amped up the excitement regarding a Sale return.
"He's throwing. He's getting off the mound," Bush said. "I don't know exactly what dates. It's a couple of times a week right now, and definitely a shorter number of throws, but he's on the mound as part of throwing program. And he's building up strength and building up intensity. Where he is today, I'm not exactly sure, but he's definitely on the mound and building up and he feels really good about it. It's a really important step for him to be able to get on the mound and as he said, he feels like a pitcher again. That's a really big step, that he feels like he's getting close and he's going to be a part of the team sometimes soon."
It has been almost 14 months since Sale underwent Tommy John surgery, with the lefty pitcher having to deal with setbacks due to a neck ailment and positive COVID-19 diagnosis.
But Sale does seem to be riding some momentum heading into June, a month that will likely see him start facing hitters during his workouts in Fort Myers, Fla.
The Red Sox' starting rotation has allowed for increased patience when it comes to Sale, with the starters totaling more wins (21) than any group in Major League Baseball while totaling a respectable 4.03 combined ERA (12th-best).
For an in-depth look into Sale's road to recovery, click here.
