White Sox pitcher Chris Sale has been suspended for five days after he was accused of cutting up the retro jerseys the team had been asked to wear because he found them uncomfortable.
According to multiple reports, Sale, 27, was unhappy with having to wear the White Sox’s 1976 navy, collared throwbacks on a day of 91F temperatures and high humidity and so sabotaged the strips so that nobody could wear them.
“Chris has been suspended for violating team rules, for insubordination and for destroying team equipment,” said the senior vice president and general manager Rick Hahn in a statement on Sunday. “While we all appreciate Chris’s talent and passion, there is a correct way and an incorrect way to express concerns about team rules and organizational expectations.”
FanRag Sports reported that Sale cut up the 1976 throwbacks with a knife during batting practice so they couldn’t be worn. Fox Sports said that Sale’s dislike for the uniforms was because he thought they were uncomfortable; Sale also thought the White Sox were putting “PR and jersey sales” ahead of winning.
Sources say: Sale cut up throwbacks during batting practice. Upset that, in his view, PR and jersey sales were more important than winning.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 24, 2016
The team then decided to send Sale home from US Cellular Field.
Matt Albers, who started in Sale’s place, seemed to confirm the incident, but the White Sox initially provided no details beyond a team statement. The game was suspended by rain after eight innings tied at three – and the teams will resume Sunday before the series finale.
“We’re going to keep that in-house,” Albers said. “Obviously you guys probably know what happened, but for me as a player, and in our clubhouse, we’re going to keep in in-house.
“You’re going to have to ask somebody else about that.”
White Sox third baseman Todd Frazier said: “I can’t really talk about that.”
The White Sox didn’t announce Sale was scratched until less than a half hour before the scheduled first pitch.
“Chris Sale has been scratched from tonight’s schedule start and sent home from the ballpark. The incident, which was non-physical in nature, currently is under further investigation by the club,” GM Rick Hahn said in a statement released just before the scheduled 6.10pm start.
“The White Sox will have no additional comment until the investigation is completed.”
The White Sox were expected to wear the collared, blue and white V-neck jerseys first worn during the 1976 season. But with not enough usable 1976 jerseys available, the White Sox wore white retro uniforms from the 1983 season. The White Sox marketing department had publicized the night as the “Throwback Game.”
After Saturday night’s game, White Sox manager Robin Ventura declined to discuss the incident and would not comment on whether the team will enact any further discipline.
“Not going to discuss what went on in there, but unfortunately he didn’t start tonight, and I’m proud of the guys that came in and filled in,” Ventura said.
“He’s one of the best, absolutely,” Albers said of Sale. “But we’re here for teammates. We’re here to pick each other up in good times and bad.”
Saturday wasn’t the first time Sale has exited before a game. The five-time All-Star left before a game near the end of the 2014 season after sharing some heated words with Ventura.
