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Brace yourselves. Tonight could be a doozy.
Chris Sale was scratched from his start against Detroit tonight, with Matt Albers replacing him. It took an eternity to find out why, and we still don’t actually really know the reason.
Original reports of the flu didn’t materialize, and then were shot down. That increased the trade speculation, and that, too, was shot down by multiple reports shortly before White Sox released a statement of their own that says simultaneously so much and so little.
CHICAGO – Chicago White Sox senior vice president/general manager Rick Hahn issued the following statement prior to tonight’s game against the Detroit Tigers at U.S. Cellular Field:
"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. The incident, which was non-physical in nature, currently is under further investigation by the club.
"The White Sox will have no additional comment until the investigation is completed."
We know of one other time when Sale was sent home, and that was after a heated argument with Robin Ventura toward the end of the 2014 season. But Sale wasn’t even pitching that day, so the fact that he’s missing this start and the word "investigation" is involved gives this one a far more ominous tone.
He also tried storming the Royals clubhouse last April, and he lashed out against Kenny Williams in L'Affaire LaRoche.
Further bulletins as events warrant.
Update (6:27 p.m.): Jerry Crasnick with a little elaboration:
The Sale incident began with something "silly" that mushroomed into a bigger argument, says a source. #Whitesox
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 23, 2016
Not sure if or how Kenny Williams was involved. Sale has had strained relations with #whitesox and things finally boiled over.
— Jerry Crasnick (@jcrasnick) July 23, 2016
Update (6:46 p.m.): Getting more specific...
Source: Sale incident did not involve #WhiteSox executive VP Ken Williams.
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 23, 2016
I'm hearing the Chris Sale incident was over something "stupid." Might have been a joke about getting traded and he flipped out.
— Chuck Garfien (@ChuckGarfien) July 23, 2016
LRT: Now I'm picturing ... https://t.co/Ns6Wt5OHq9
— Phenomenal Source (@SouthSideSox) July 23, 2016
Update: (7 p.m.): Please be true.
The Sale thing started over something silly with either his uniform or the team's uniforms, according to a couple of sources.
— Julie DiCaro (@JulieDiCaro) July 23, 2016
Not a joke: Source says Sale blowup was because he didn't want to wear throwbacks, so he cut the jerseys up so no one could wear them.
— Tommy Stokke (@StokkeTommy) July 23, 2016
Update (7:14 p.m.): This one is not being shot down. There is corroborating circumstantial evidence, in that the team was supposed to wear its 1976 throwback uniforms, but came out wearing the 1983 ones instead.
Yup, it's true. Chris Sale got sent home by White Sox for cutting up a jersey he didn't want to wear. Source confirms @StokkeTommy report.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 24, 2016
Source: "Sale asked that they not wear (throwbacks) on his day because they are uncomfortable. Things escalated when they wouldn't relent."
— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 24, 2016