White Sox’ Sale saga gets more confusing
The White Sox need to talk. They really need to talk.
Over the past week, promising starting pitcher Chris Sale was moved out of the rotation and into the bullpen. He was named the Sox’ full-time closer for the rest of the season.
At the same time, Sale was diagnosed with “tightness and discomfort” in his throwing (left) elbow.
OK … that’s something you don’t hear every day.
Sale didn’t pitch in the White Sox’ three-game series at Detroit over the weekend, and he also sat out of Monday’s day-night doubleheader at Cleveland.
Sale did pitch 1 inning of relief against the Indians on Tuesday night, but rookie right-hander Addison Reed was called on to get the save, and he was successful.
After the Sox won 5-3 in 10 innings, the Sale saga took another strange turn.
Sale told the Chicago Sun-Times he wanted to go back to the starting rotation, and pitching coach Don Cooper told the newspaper: “Never say never. For this moment, right now, he’s in the bullpen.”
OK … so that permanent move to the bullpen, maybe it wasn’t so permanent after all.
But there is more to the story, much more.
The White Sox are off Thursday, but Sale is scheduled to have an MRI on his elbow. Cooper revealed that little nugget on SiriusXM’s MLB Network Radio Wednesday.
“It’s scheduled to be done,” Cooper said. “And we’re going to look at it, I’m not sure what day it is, but we’re going to be looking at it real fast because obviously he’s a big part of the now as well as the future, and he’s kind of a special guy.”
Does Sale have a bad elbow?
“He’s not hurt,” manager Robin Ventura told reporters before Wednesday night’s game at Cleveland. “That’s just more monitoring what’s going on and seeing where it’s at. It’s kind of precautionary stuff that just happens all the time. I don’t really look at it as a red flag.”
OK … and you, Chris?
“I think it’s just something precautionary,” Sale told reporters. “Find out 100 percent if there is or isn’t (elbow damage). Pitching last night, threw some long toss today, I feel fine. I’m not really worried about it. It (MRI) is one of those things you’ve got to go do just to make sure.”
Since Sale was removed from the starting rotation, White Sox general manager Kenny Williams has not been heard from. He finally responded to the Daily Herald, via email, Wednesday afternoon.
“I’m traveling today and on the move,” Williams said. “I will address this on Friday and in person.”
OK … that likely means it is time for Williams, Ventura, Cooper and possibly Sale to have a serious talk about what has transpired over a week that can best be described as bizarre.
“This all happened pretty fast,” Ventura said. “I think getting everybody in the room is probably the best thing to do. Personally I’m not probably making that decision.
“It’s something where everybody involved needs to just get in a room and discuss it. It (Sale starting) could happen. I’m not saying it can’t. But I would be surprised if it did.”
sgregor@dailyherald.com