Sale has been scratched from his start against the Detroit Tigers after he was involved in what the team says was a “non-physical clubhouse incident”. “I know my teammates are, too”. His point was that every pitch matters, and for as hard as he trained to be prepared, he didn’t want an easily surmountable obstacle to get in his way.
Advertisement
Sale is due to return from his suspension for a Thursday start against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. “But we had to act”, Ventura said. “That’s what he does”. Sale was in favor of the ’83 throwbacks, which eventually were worn Saturday, because he didn’t want the untucked style of the ’76 uniform.
“When I saw that there was something in the way of that 100 percent winning mentality, I had an issue”, Sale told MLB.com. I tried to bring it up and say, ‘Hey listen, these are my thoughts and concerns, ‘ and they got pushed away because of the business deal that was set in place. In addition to being suspended, he was fined about $12,700 for the cost of the jerseys. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because no statements were authorized.
Ventura shook off the comments Tuesday and supported general manager Rick Hahn’s decision to send the left-hander home after the incident.
After seeing the collared jerseys hanging from players’ lockers when he arrived Saturday, Sale became enraged.
It’s understandable that Sale wants to put winning first, but that’s still no excuse to cut up the uniforms.
That memory is pertinent this week as a devil’s-advocate counterpoint to White Sox ace Chris Sale’s tirade on Saturday in which he refused to wear the throwback jerseys on which the organization had centered a fan promotion.
“I have regret, because I play 33 times a year at most in the regular season”, he added.
“Guys have seen a lot of stuff, and it’s about playing”, Ventura said.
“Do I regret standing up for what I believe in?”
This, of course, doesn’t mean Sale absolutely doesn’t get traded before Monday’s 4 p.m. deadline, with one executive with an interested team saying they think “there’s a chance” a blockbuster deal gets done. Throughout the “apology”, Sale stressed that his main priority is winning, and that he felt the 1976 throwback jerseys would negatively affect him on the mound. The White Sox haven’t indicated they’re willing to move the southpaw, but if they do, it sounds like the Dodgers are willing to pounce.
Advertisement
Despite all of that, Ventura said he can “absolutely” still work effectively with Sale.
