White Sox suspend Sale after pitcher cut up uniform
CHICAGO — The White Sox have suspended ace lefthander Chris Sale for five days.
“Chris has been suspended for violating team rules, for insubordination and for destroying team equipment,” Rick Hahn, White Sox senior vice president/general manager, said in a statement. “While we all appreciate Chris’ talent and passion, there is a correct way and an incorrect way to express concerns about team rules and organizational expectations.”
Before Saturday’s game, Sale reportedly destroyed some of the team’s 1976 throwback uniforms players were to scheduled wear in conjunction with a promotional giveaway at the park.
White Sox manager Robin Ventura said Sunday morning that he hadn’t talked to Sale since the pitcher was asked to leave the stadium Saturday. He referred questions about whether Sale will be disciplined or suspended to Hahn, who said Sale is eligible to return Thursday against the Cubs. Hahn wouldn’t say whether Sale would pitch in that game.
Ventura also said he doesn’t think the incident will have an affect on whether the team will trade Sale, who is 14-3 with a 3.18 ERA and leads the American League in strikeouts with 274. The trading deadline is Aug. 1.
“It’s something that you deal with,” Ventura said. “We’re gonna deal with that internally and we’ll officially discuss that when he gets back here at some point.”
Ventura said Sale won’t start the first game today of the two-game series at U.S. Cellular Field against the Cubs but left open the possibility he could pitch against the Cubs next week, either at home or at Wrigley Field on Wednesday or Thursday.
Ventura said it’s possible Sale will have to mend some fences when he returns.
“It’s nothing that can’t be smoothed over,” Ventura said. “This is not the first (incident). He has the ability to come back here and pitch and carry on.”
Last season, Sale attempted to gain entrance into the Royals locker room following his ejection after a brawl between the teams. He also left before a game near the end of 2014 after a shouting match with Ventura.
Third baseman Todd Frazier didn’t directly address Sale’s latest situation but said he’s seen his fair share of odd things during his career.
“It’s crazy,” he said. “You talk to umpires during games and stuff and it’s like you think you’ve see it all, baseball-wise. It’s tough to talk about. It’s just something different.”
DEVELOPMENTS
Briefly: The Pittsburgh Pirates placed righthander Tyler Glasnow on the 15-day disabled list. Glasnow pitched into the fourth inning in his start against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday before being removed with right shoulder discomfort. The 6-foot-8, 22-year-old is one of the top pitching prospects in baseball . ... Miami Marlins left-hander Wei-Yin Chen will miss his next scheduled start after being placed on the 15-day DL because of elbow soreness. The Marlins recalled Jarred Cosart, who opened the season in the rotation, from Triple-A New Orleans to start for Chen tonight when the Marlins face the Phillies at home.