Sale loses control on, off the field
If there's one major-league player who has had a good reason to continually blow his stack this season, it's Chris Sale.
The White Sox' ace starting pitcher entered Friday's game against the Rangers with the fifth-lowest ERA (2.78) in the American League, but he was receiving the lowest offensive support (2.94 runs per game).
Following the Sox' 11-5 loss to Texas, Sale was blaming no one but himself for his poor pitching performance and two more ugly outbursts.
The first one came in the third inning, when the Rangers' Ian Kinsler appeared to double down the left-field line when the baseball became wedged in the padding.
By the time Dayan Viciedo located the ball, Kinsler had cleared the bases for an inside-the-park home run.
Manager Robin Ventura argued with third-base umpire Greg Gibson and was ejected, and Sale had some nasty words for home-plate ump Jerry Layne.
Sale managed to stay in the game, but when he exited for good in the seventh inning, he slammed his mitt continually on the dugout bench and knocked over a plastic container.
Sale allowed 8 runs on 8 hits (4 home runs) in 7 innings, raising his ERA to 3.08.
Afterward, Sale (9-12) issued yet another apology for his explosive temper.
“There are two things I'm pretty embarrassed about tonight, and that is definitely one of them,” Sale said of his dugout tantrum. “The way I talked to Jerry as well when all he was trying to do was help me out and calm me down, I said some things to him that I wish I could take back and wish I didn't say because he's one of the good ones. I respect him a lot.”
Sale is aware he has some anger issues and he's working to keep them in check.
“You have to corral that,” Sale said. “Me and Coop (pitching coach Don Cooper) talk about that a lot — use it, don't abuse it.
“I wore my emotions on my sleeve and it came out. I'm embarrassed by that. ”
Cotts back in big leagues:Neal Cotts thought his career was over after elbow surgery and multiple hip operations, but the left-handed relief pitcher is having a standout season with the Rangers.Cotts, a key member of the White Sox' 2005 World Series championship team, is 5-2 and his 1.30 ERA is the third lowest among qualified American League relievers.The 33-year-old Cotts pitched for Texas' Class AAA Round Rock farm team last year and the beginning of this season before making it back to the majors in late May.#8220;Eventually, I just wanted to get out on the field and see if I could do it again,#8221; said Cotts, an Illinois State product. #8220;That was the whole point of last year, I wanted to get back. If it was going to be the end all, like I'm not going to pitch anymore, I'd rather have it be done on the field.#8221;Civil Rights Game:The White Sox and Rangers play in the seventh annual Civil Rights Game tonight at U.S. Cellular Field. All of the Sox will be in attendance at the Beacon Awards Luncheon Saturday afternoon at the Chicago Marriott, where Bo Jackson will be honored.#8220;It's nice,#8221; Robin Ventura said. #8220;We're fortunate to have it. It's important that all our guys go, sit there listen and understand and kind of appreciate what has evolved and where the game is right now.#8221;Minor-league suspension:Pedro Rodriguez, a pitcher with the White Sox' Dominican Republic Summer League tea, was suspended for 50 games on Friday for violating baseball's drug prevention and treatment program.