This past weekend, the pitching ace of the Chicago White Sox Chris Sale complained about the playing uniforms the team was scheduled to wear when he was scheduled to pitch.
He refused to wear them and was subsequently scratched as the starter for the game and sent home. The White Sox then suspended the southpaw for five games.
On Monday, Sale spoke with reporters for the first time about the incident. He said he did not request a trade from Chicago and maintains that he does not want to be traded.
However, reports are that Sale would not or did not use the words apologize or sorry when he spoke to his teammates.
He did say to reporters that he regretted the incident because he plays just 33 times each year and puts a great deal of emphasis on when he plays and takes great pride in the work he does.
He added that when he cannot play he is disappointed and in this case disappointed in himself for not being there to help his teammates.
However, he did say he had no regrets for standing up for something he believes in nor does he regret saying business should not come before winning.
Sale’s biggest focus during the interview with reporters was to express the desire he has to win, which Sale says was the reason the entire incident unfolded.
He denied any trade rumors because to do otherwise would dig a deeper hole for the pitching ace. Instead, the biggest thing that will come out of this is how he responds to the situation.
If Sale likes this or not, other teams in the league, such as the Boston Red Sox for one are going to make calls about the star pitcher for Chicago.
Everyone knows how well he can pitch, with 14 wins to lead the American League and an ERA of 3.18. What teams need now is to know if they would have to trade their farm system for him.
Sale would be a huge pick up for the Red Sox who are in desperate need of pitching help. Other teams would lineup in an attempt to convince the White Sox to let him go and the problem with wearing a specific uniform will fall away as quickly as it became news.
