Levine: Chris Sale Admits Some Regret But Doesn't Back Down From His Beliefs
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Back with the White Sox for the first time since serving a five-game suspension for the destruction of team uniforms last Saturday, White Sox left-hander Chris Sale expressed remorse to his team and fan base for not taking the mound when his name was called. The discipline and fallout from the incident appears to have humbled the fiery Sale, at least a bit.
"I felt like I was out on an island," Sale said of how he spent his hours during the time away. "7 p.m.rolls around, I usually know what is going on. Sitting in the house sucks."
Sale made his return Thursday, pitching six good innings but taking the loss as the Cubs beat the White Sox, 3-1, at Wrigley Field to split the four-game rivalry series. Sale allowed two runs on six hits and three walks while striking out four. When it was over, no one was asking questions about his outing.
The topic of conversation was his recent behavior, what he was thinking in taking scissors to 1976 throwback jerseys and whether he regretted the ugly episode. Sale didn't apologize about the torn-up uniforms or the debacle that ruined the promotional night, but he did feel he let people down.
"I regret not being there for my guys," Sale said. "I am a pitcher. I am called out there every fifth day. When I can't be out there for my guys, for the fans and the people, that gets to me."
The 27-year-old Sale was welcomed back with hugs and handshakes by his teammates before the game. This reception brought welled-up tears of emotion and touched Sale deeply.
"I want to play, pitch and be there for my guys," Sale said. "Point blank, that is it. I want to be there when my name is called. I do not like people filling in for me. I love what I do. I love pitching and competing. I love the guys I am surrounded by. When I let them down, it hurts me more than it hurts them."
Sale wants to stay with the White Sox despite the trade rumors swirling around him after the general manager Rick Hahn said Sunday that Sale would help either the White Sox or someone else compete for a championship.
"I don't pay attention to that stuff," Sale said. "I don't read the newspapers, I don't have Twitter. I stay out of all that. That stuff is for other people. I don't know what their plans are. I come in every day to prepare myself to win ballgames."
Sale refused to take back or expand upon the critical comments he made about manager Robin Ventura to MLB.com earlier in the week. In that interview, Sale indicated Ventura didn't have the players' backs because he didn't stand up for them when Sale expressed his disdain for wearing the collared 1976 throwback uniforms. It was after that when Sale destroyed the jerseys.
"I know you have to write stories and stuff," Sale said. "They said their side, and I said my side. Now I am ready to talk about baseball."
Refocusing his emotion is a future goal for Sale.
"My emotions, I pitch with a lot of it," he said. "I am a pretty competitive person. I will try to keep those in check a little bit more. Use them, not abuse them."
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.