Sale apologizes to team, fans, but doesn't regret uniform stunt

Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale apologized for letting down his teammates and fans for his Saturday tirade that led to a five-game team suspension, but he didn't back down from the position that led to him cutting up the team's throwback uniforms.

Sale spoke with MLB.com on Monday, his first public comments since the incident.

The left-hander was due to start Saturday against the Detroit Tigers, and the White Sox were scheduled to wear 1976 throwback uniforms that day, complete with collared jerseys that are not intended to be tucked into the pants.

Sale told the team he would be uncomfortable pitching in that uniform, but when his request for a different outfit was declined, he cut up all of the team's 1976 throwbacks. The White Sox wound up playing in 1983 uniforms. Sale was scratched from his start and later suspended for five games.

"I have regret, because I play 33 times a year at most in the regular season, so I put a lot of emphasis on when I play and I take a lot of pride in work that I do," Sale told MLB.com. "When I can't or don't do that, yeah, I have disappointment in myself for not being there for my guys.

"Do I regret standing up for what I believe in? Absolutely not. Do I regret saying business should not be first before winning? Absolutely not."

Sale believes the 1976 uniforms would have hampered the team's ability to beat the Tigers.

"When I saw that there was something in the way of that 100 percent winning mentality, I had an issue," Sale told MLB.com. "I tried to bring it up and say, 'Hey listen, these are my thoughts and concerns,' and they got pushed away because of the business deal that was set in place. I'll never understand why we need to do something on the business side on the field that might impede us winning a game.

"(The '76 uniforms) are uncomfortable and unorthodox. I didn't want to go out there and not be at the top of my game in every aspect that I need to be in. Not only that, but I didn't want anything to alter my mechanics. ... There's a lot of different things that went into it. Looking bad had absolutely zero to do with it. Nothing."

Sale is due to return from his suspension for a Thursday start against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field.

White Sox manager Robin Ventura said the team is not dwelling on the Saturday incident.

"Guys have seen a lot of stuff, and it's about playing," Ventura said. "I think they're about playing, and we'll go with that until something needs to be addressed. As far as playing, guys are just moving on and playing."