White Sox pitcher Chris Sale benched after cutting up throwback uniforms before game

The Chicago White Sox scratched starting pitcher Chris Sale from a game against the Detroit Tigers on Saturday night after he reportedly cut up the team's throwback uniforms before the game because he found them uncomfortable.

A statement released by Rick Hahn, the team's general manager, initially said that Sale was sent home from the ballpark because of a 'non-physical incident' in the clubhouse. But it was later revealed that the 5-time All-Star threw the bizarre tantrum after the team was forced to wear the White Sox's 1976 throwback uniforms for the game. 

Sale said he found the throwback uniforms to be uncomfortable and asked that they not have to wear them while he was on the mound, according to Fox Sports reporter Ken Rosenthal. 

Many at first speculated that Sale was a last-minute scratch from the game because the 27-year-old was down with an illness or was going to being traded. But things 'escalated' when management wouldn't relent on his wish to not wear the bulkier throwback and he turned the, let's be honest, fashion disasters all into irregulars.

Sale then reportedly got upset and cut up the uniforms during batting practice because he claimed that 'PR and jersey sales were more important than winning' and wanted to make sure nobody could wear them, a source told Rosenthal.

The 1976 navy blue and white throwback jerseys have been on the White Sox's promotional schedule all year and were tied to a giveaway during the game. The team wore the 1983 white, red and blue throwback unis instead. 

The temperamental Sale has had prior run-ins with the White Sox including calling out the team after Adam LaRoche quit when they asked LaRoche to scale back on bringing his 14-year-old son into the clubhouse.

Matt Albers started Saturday night's game in Sales' place after the uniform shredding. The game was suspended after the eighth inning following a lengthy rainy delay and will continue from the top off the ninth Sunday afternoon, with the series finale to follow after its completion. Manager Robin Ventura said Sale will not start the second game; Jose Quintana will stay on schedule and get the nod against the Tigers.

Hahn said that the incident involving Sale was being investigated by the club but you can bet the incident won't diminish interest from other teams in trading for the lanky left-hander.

Yoenis Cespedes open to contract extension with Mets

Mets fans have been giddy with optimism after acquiring Yoenis Cespedes before the trade deadline, and those Metsies might be in a tizzy when they find out the slugger might not just be a late-season rental.

The team’s newest outfielder offered a open-ended answer when asked Tuesday about the possibility of a contract extension.

"This is something that I can't control," Cespedes said through an interpreter. "I don't know what the front office is thinking about. But [from] what I see so far, I would love for everything to work out and stay with the Mets for a long, long time."

After just three games in a Mets uniform, Cespedes raved about his new team's dynamic young starting pitching and the atmosphere in the clubhouse.

However, putting together an extension could prove problematic for Cespedes, who was acquired from the Tigers just before Friday's trade deadline.

The Mets would need to make an offer enticing enough for Cespedes to forgo testing the open market — at a time when a power-hitting skill set is at a premium. Sources yesterday pegged Cespedes' potential asking price on the open market to be in the $120 million-$150 million range, depending on the length of his next contract.

With the exception of David Wright's contract extension, the skinflint Mets in recent years have shown little regard for awarding such long-term commitments.

Also, if the 29-year-old Cespedes doesn't sign an extension and reaches the open market this winter, a clause in his contract essentially keeps the Mets from bidding on his services.

Players typically must gain six years of major-league service time to qualify for free agency. But because of his experience in Cuba, Cespedes negotiated a clause that forces him to be released at the end of the season.

Cespedes would then be free to sign elsewhere— no different from other free agents — even though he would have only four years of service time.

If he does not sign an extension by five days after the World Series, then the Mets must release him because of the clause. That would mean the Mets could no longer sign him in the offseason because any player released after Aug. 31 cannot be re-signed by that club until May 15. Nor can the Mets make Cespedes a qualifying offer.

Old Tigers fans have an elaborate celebratory handshake that is too cute (VIDEO)

At Friday night's White Sox-Tigers game, two more mature Detroit fans took Yoenis Cespedes' RBI triple as an opportunity to show everyone that you are never too old to have a secret celebratory handshake.

And who knows how long these two seniors have been keeping high-five, low-five, finger-jive under wraps.

And that wasn't the crack of a bat you heard — it was someone’s elbow.

Young Tigers fan learns the joy and pain of catching A's grand slam ball (VIDEO)

A young Tigers fan experienced a full range of emotions after he happily caught a grand slam ball before realizing it benefited the opposing team.

With Detroit leading the Athletics, 3-1, in the top of the eighth, Ben Zobrist, came to the plate with the bases loaded. On an 0-1 changeup from Angel Nesbitt, Zobrist drilled the pitch over the fence in left-center field where the 8-year-old JD Schilp was ready with his glove. 

Feelings of joy spread through his body as he lifted his arms in celebration. That was until he figured out his beloved Tigers were now losing 5-3.

Somewhere there's a life lesson learned here.

Kate Upton and Justin Verlander learn to swing (PHOTOS)

Yup. That was Kate Upton and boyfriend Justin Verlander flying through air with the greatest of ease Saturday afternoon.

The supermodel and Tigers pitcher took a class at the New York Trapeze School in Queens and posted photos of themselves on Instagram flying through the air as they learned to swing, reports Page Six of the N.Y. Post.

Kate later posted, “I learned @justinverlander is amazing at trapeze!”

Today I learned @justinverlander is amazing at trapeze! Thanks for the surprise 😘 thanks @TSNYNewYork

A photo posted by Kate Upton (@kateupton) on Nov 11, 2014 at 5:05pm PST

And it's good to see their relationship isn't walking a tightrope.

Kate Upton was at Tigers-Orioles game doing this (GIF)

Kate Upton was at Camden Yards Friday afternoon, supporting boyfriend and Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander in Game 2 of the ALDS. When cameras panned to her, she did this:

Is it a dance? A voodoo curse? Or just Kate being Kate?

Whatever it was, she did have some shiny new bling on her finger.

Kate Upton cheering on Justin Verlander. I'm chalking it up as style, but there is a ring on her ring finger. pic.twitter.com/MN3FA4yRXn
— Brad Galli (@BradGalli) October 3, 2014

Alex Avila uses backstop netting as trampoline to make catch (VIDEO)

If you thought that netting behind home plate was only there to protect fans from wayward foul balls, don't tell Alex Avila.

The Detroit Tigers catcher used the web-like backstop as his own personal trampoline Friday night to make a sensational leaping catch in the fifth-inning against the Indians.

Coincidentally, the Tigers also bounced back into first place of the AL Central with a convincing 7-2 victory over the visitors.

Miguel Cabrera completes baseball pass to Calvin Johnson (VIDEO)

When Calvin Johnson visited Comerica Park with a few of his Lions teammates on Tuesday night, Miguel Cabrera welcomed them by tossing a friendly pass in Megatron's direction.

Call it Miggy to Meggy:

You didn't expect Johnson to drop it. I know NY Giants fans didn't.

Derek Jeter's tiny nephew tips cap to Detroit crowd (VIDEO)

On Wednesday night, Derek Jeter was back in his home state of Michigan and honored by the Tigers in a pregame ceremony at Comerica Park. The Jeter family attended, and when his little nephew Jalen heard his name, he took off his cap and tipped it like a pro:

It looks like the little guy — dressed in a tiny No. 2 Yankees uniform — has been watching the master of all cap tippers — his uncle from Kalamazoo:

Everyone together. Awwwwww.

Yankees reel off nine straight hits against David Price (VIDEO)

With a ragtag mix of high-priced and misplaced players, the Yankees put on a display of hitting acumen Wednesday night — a sight which has been sorely lacking in the Bronx Bombers' games this season.

The anemic lineup finally came alive in the third inning against the Tigers by thrashing old Yankee nemesis and former Cy Young winner David Price for nine consecutive hits — one short of tying an American League record and two shy of baseball’s all-time mark — and eight runs in that decisive inning.

The eruption sparked an 8-4 win, and kept the Yankees to the American League wild-card race.

And it was hard not to think of this old Saturday morning favorite during the outburst:

Yankees' Brendan Ryan hits ball twice in one swing (VIDEO)

NY Yankees second baseman Brendan Ryan hit the ball twice Thursday afternoon, which normally wouldn't be headline news.

Except that Ryan did it in one swing of the bat.

With one out in the second inning and Ichiro Suzuki on first base, Tigers pitcher Rick Porcello jammed Ryan with a 1-2 fastball inside.

The ball first struck the handle of Ryan's bat, then made contact with the barrel as he completed the follow-through on his swing.

It ended up a single down the third-base line.

Here's YES announcer Paul O'Neil's explanation of the twice-as-nice play.

Derek Jeter is awed by Ezequiel Carrera's amazing catch (VIDEO)

Ezequiel Carrera's diving catch Monday night is already being called the best defensive play of the 2014 season. 

The Tigers centerfielder robbed a bases-loaded double — possibly a bases-clearing triple — from Yankees' Jacoby Ellsbury in the third inning at Yankee Stadium and had everyone from pitcher Matt Scherzer to the hot dog guy dropping their jaws in amazement.

And, if you don't believe Carrera's leaping catch was spectacular, it even had Derek Jeter (who has seen everything during his 20-year career) shaking his head and saying wow:

Carrera's play is worth seeing again:

Adorable moment Kate Upton gets souvenir baseball from Justin Verlander (VIDEO)

What's a girl gotta do to get a free souvenir baseball at Yankee Stadium? In Kate Upton's case ... usually nothing. But it doesn't hurt that her boyfriend Justin Verlander was in the house.

The supermodel was sitting behind the visitor's dugout to watch the Tigers take on the Yankees when Verlander pitched a little woo to his gal.

That sound you just heard was the entire Bronx exhaling in one collective swoon.

Carlos Pena's first home run of season lands in tray of brisket (VIDEO)

First home runs of the season usually taste pretty good but Carlos Pena's first dinger of the year had a little bit of mouthwatering Texas flavor to boot.

Pena, called up June 24 after bouncing around MLB for 14 years, celebrated his return to the Rangers by smacking an enormous home run in Wednesday's game against the Tigers.

And if he longed for his old Lone Star State cooking, it showed. The ball went over the right field fence and directly into a tray of BBQ beef brisket.

And this tasty Texas tale doesn't stop there. The guy who got the ball gave it to a cute girl who he had just met five minutes earlier.

That's love — Texas barbecue style.

Tigers' groundskeeper pays tribute to Tony Gwynn (PHOTO)

Upon hearing the sad news of Tony Gwynn's untimely death, here's what the Comerica Park infield looked like prior to Monday night's Royals-Tigers game.

The @Tigers honor Tony Gwynn with a special marking on the infield dirt: http://t.co/SY74sp9fan pic.twitter.com/QHiGWxEGUb
— MLB (@MLB) June 17, 2014

One groundkeeper paid tribute to the "5.5 hole" — the famous gap between short and third that Gwynn slapped hundreds of base hits through.

Short and sweet. Just like Gwynn.

Verlander offers imaginary oxygen mask to Holaday after first MLB triple (VIDEO)

When Tigers backup catcher Bryan Holaday hit his first MLB triple, Justin Verlander had a little fun mocking his teammate while he caught his breath standing at third Friday night.

After Holaday chugged his way around to third base, Verlander offered the winded catcher a little support via a pantomimed oxygen mask as the rest of the dugout cracked up laughing.

It's amusing because backup catchers are not known for their speed and Holaday is big and slow and well ... you get it.

But it was the Red Sox who could have used a little huff from Verlander's fake oxygen tank after they ran out of gas and lost to the Tigers 6-2.

Derek Jeter leading American League All-Star shortstop voting: Report

If the early polls are any indication, Derek Jeter is headed for one final All-Star Game. 

The first American League voting results for the 2014 All-Star Game have been announced, and if the vote ended today, Tigers and Yankees fans would be very happy. 

Every position but third base has a Detroit or New York player among the top three, including all six starting outfielders among the top 15 at that position. That includes early leads for the Tigers’ Miguel Cabrera (first base) and Ian Kinsler (second base), Jeter (shortstop) and Jacoby Ellsbury (outfield).

Jeter (.269 BA, 1 HR, 10 RBIs) holds a 130,000-vote lead at shortstop over Alexei Ramirez (.324, 7 HR, 36 RBIs) of the White Sox. The soon-to-be-retired shortstop has received more than 600,000 votes, third in the AL behind Mike Trout and Jose Bautista.

“I always tell you guys, All-Star games are great,” Jeter said. “It’s a fun experience. You never know when you’re going to get a chance to go, but it’s something that I think every player would look forward to.”

Jeter said it was far too early to think about whether he’ll be voted in, remembering 1999, when Nomar Garciaparra overtook him on the final day of voting.

“I was leading until like a couple of hours left in the voting and then Nomar got me,” Jeter said. “Honestly, I haven’t thought about it. I was not even aware that it comes out this soon. But I’ve appreciated every single one that I’ve gone to.”

Jeter has been selected to 13 All-Star teams, earning the starting nod from the fan vote eight times. This year’s game takes place at Target Field in Minneapolis on July 15.

Too bad that with all that Jeter love, there's bound to be a lot of haters.

Yu Darvish freezes Torii Hunter with surprise eephus pitch (VIDEO)

During Thursday's game between the Rangers and Tigers, Yu Darvish got creative with an 0-2 count and two outs against Torii Hunter. The Rangers pitcher didn't get strike three with the whimsical eephus pitch, but it forced Hunter's head to spin.

Darvish's low-speed, 55 mph-junk throw came at the right time — a seven-run lead and no one on base — to have a little fun. And even if the seventh-inning pitch didn't pack any heat or make Hunter swing, it still got his brain to freeze.

Woman falls down elevator shaft at Fenway Park: Report

Boston fire officials say a 22-year-old woman fell down an elevator shaft at Fenway Park after the Tigers-Red Sox game Friday night.

Firefighters say they responded to the elevator at Gate B at about 11:15 p.m. after the doors on the fourth floor somehow opened and the woman apparently fell into the shaft and landed on the roof of the elevator stopped at the second floor. 

Firefighters and Boston EMS rescued the woman from inside the elevator and transported her to the hospital.

The victim’s condition is not known.

Fire officials say a state elevator inspector was called to the scene of the aging stadium and a state elevator inspector and Boston Police are investigating.

In the game, the Red Sox lost to the Detroit Tigers 1-0 after a rain delay.

Iron Man gets into Mike Trout's head during slump (VIDEO)

Iron Man — who was seated just behind home plate for Sunday's Angels-Tigers game — made sure to give the slumping Mike Trout some hitting advice before his at-bat in the top of the 8th in a tight, 2-1 contest.

No, it wasn't baseball's version of Iron Man, Cal Ripken — or even Tony Stark — but some Tigers fan dressed in a cloth version of the superhero's exoskeleton armor.

Trout grounded to third, stranding a runner in scoring position as the Tigers held on to their narrow lead and eventually took their second straight game (and the series) from Los Angeles.

As for Trout, back-to-back 0-fers and five Ks in two games might make him to listen to anybody — even some dude in a costume.