Sep 24, 2014; Detroit, MI, USA; Chicago White Sox catcher Tyler Flowers (left) gets between starting pitcher Chris Sale (49) and Detroit Tigers designated hitter Victor Martinez (41) after Martinez is hit by a pitch in the sixth inning at Comerica Park. Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
CHICAGO — Tensions between the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers continued Thursday, even while the teams started their final series of the season against different opponents.
The cause of the commotion was the beanball White Sox ace Chris Sale hit Tigers DH Victor Martinez with Wednesday afternoon. Tigers manager Brad Ausmus maintained his position that Sale did it on purpose, to retaliate for what they claim he said was a spy using binoculars to steal signs from center field at Comerica Park.
Sale didn’t comment after being allowed to go home for a personal reason prior to the White Sox’s 6-3 loss Thursday to start a series against the Kansas City Royals. Chicago manager Robin Ventura did address the situation when asked, and took exception to Ausmus’ comments after the game Wednesday, in which he called Sale’s actions “weak.”
“I know Chris is not weak, I know that,” said Ventura, who was clearly perturbed. “I know, if anything, he’s not weak and we don’t do weak things. And Chris doesn’t do weak things. (Ausmus) should probably worry about his own team and invest a little more in his own team. Don’t worry about my team.”
The White Sox and Tigers don’t meet again until next season, when they’ll play three games April 17-19 in Chicago’s third series of the year. Martinez, who’s set to become a free agent this offseason, might not even be with the Tigers at that point. He did add a little more fuel to the fire Thursday by hitting a home run and pointing out to center field to mock what Sale did after striking him out Wednesday,
Ventura said the situation won’t lapse into next season in his mind.
“No, right now I’m done talking about it,” he said. “Chris is a great pitcher and he’s not a weak person, nor does he do weak stuff. That’s it.”
