Levine: White Sox Ace Sale Scratched, Sent Home Due To 'Clubhouse Incident'
By Bruce Levine--
CHICAGO (CBS) -- Amid trade speculation and rumors about his current status with the White Sox, left-hander Chris Sale was sent home by the team for an altercation prior to his scheduled start against the Tigers on Saturday night.
In the aftermath, the White Sox declined to discuss the specifics of Sale's pregame adventures, which involved him cutting up the team's retro 1976 jerseys because he didn't want to wear them. All manager Robin Ventura would say is that Sale won't pitch Sunday. Ventura wouldn't commit to when Sale would take the mound again.
"I am not going to discuss what went on in there, but it is unfortunate he didn't start tonight," Ventura said after the White Sox and Tigers had their 3-3 tie suspended after eight inning due to rain. "I am proud of the guys who came in and filled in."
The White Sox instead started right-handed reliever Matt Albers, who was informed 90 minutes before the game he'd need to take the hill. Albers went two innings, allowing one unearned run.
"I was told by (pitching coach Don Cooper) that I was going to start, so I mentally prepared to throw a few innings," Albers said. "I knew I wasn't going to be able to go to long, but I wanted to pitch as many innings as I could."
Added Ventura: "It is a challenge. We informed the bullpen and again, I am proud of them for doing what they had to do. It was very professional of them."
Sale's actions weren't professional on this night. Official word of him being scratched from his start came about 90 hours before the scheduled first pitch.
"Chris Sale has been scratched from tonight's scheduled start and sent home from the ballpark by the White Sox due to a clubhouse incident before the game," general manager Rick Hahn said in a prepared statement to the media. "The incident, which was non-physical in nature, currently is under further investigation by the club."
Albers wouldn't get into specifics either about the Sale incident.
"We are going to kind of keep that in house," Albers said. "You guys probably know what happened. For me, as a player and our clubhouse, we are going to keep it in house. You are just going to have to ask somebody else about that."
Sale is 14-3 on the season, tied with the Orioles' Chris Tillman for the most wins in baseball. Stories have been circulating since Thursday that Sale was in the center of trade talks. Boston, Texas and Washington had been linked to interest in Sale.
Hahn said Thursday that the White Sox weren't adding any short-term pieces to contend the rest of 2016. He also said that the organization was open to changing their direction moving forward.
Ventura did admit it's a possibility that some players are frustrated by management's statement about listening to other clubs about trades, as the deadline for non-waiver deals comes Aug. 1.
Bruce Levine covers the Cubs and White Sox for 670 The Score and CBSChicago.com. Follow him on Twitter @MLBBruceLevine.
