DENVER — Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson mentioned Friday he needs to be higher after he let his feelings get the higher of him in a heated second with Cleveland Guardians slugger José Ramírez.
Anderson was suspended for six video games after he fought with Ramírez on Aug. 5, triggering a wild brawl between the AL Central rivals. He had his punishment decreased to 5 video games in a settlement with Major League Baseball that was introduced on Thursday.
Anderson began serving the suspension with Friday evening’s sequence opener at Colorado.
“I’m kind of at a point in my career where I’ve never been here before,” Anderson mentioned in his first assembly with the media for the reason that altercation. “I’ve, however I haven’t. There’s one thing that I’m wrestling with, attempting to proceed to maintain looking for that optimistic with quite a lot of destructive issues which are going round. It’s form of onerous to search out that optimistic.
“I’m obsessed with continuing to keep getting better – a better player, a better person – and just understand what I’m up against.”
The battle began after Ramírez slid headfirst into second base between Anderson’s legs with an RBI double. He appeared upset by a tough tag and jumped to his ft. The two exchanged phrases, with Ramírez pointing in Anderson’s face as second base umpire Malachi Moore tried to step between them.
Anderson then dropped his glove and challenged Ramírez by elevating his fingers and assuming a boxer’s stance. The gamers threw punches, with Ramírez connecting with a blind shot that dropped Anderson on his bottom.
Ramírez missed two video games after initially being suspended for 3. Both managers, together with Guardians nearer Emmanuel Clase and third base coach Mike Sarbaugh, had been every suspended for one recreation.
When requested if he suffered a concussion or every other damage in the course of the battle, Anderson mentioned: “Everything’s good.” He declined to elaborate on what, if something, triggered his response.
“I’m just going to continue to keep moving forward and not really try to bring anything up or be so detailed with what really went on,” Anderson mentioned. “All we can do is just continue to keep moving and continue to try to keep being better.”
Anderson posted on Instagram on Thursday that feedback made by the Guardians “do not excuse my language or conduct, and I take full responsibility for my emotions getting the better of me.”
The 30-year-old Anderson has struggled this 12 months, batting a career-low .238 with one homer and 21 RBIs in 92 video games. The two-time All-Star hit a significant league-best .335 in 2019.
After starting 2023 with playoff aspirations, fourth-place Chicago obtained off to a horrible begin and by no means recovered.
Anderson was sidelined by a knee sprain in April, however he downplayed the impact of the damage on his powerful season.
“I always try to lead by example, but I haven’t given a good example,” Anderson mentioned. “But I come every day to try to better myself and better the guys around me. I work and I’m pretty sure this organization knows what type of person I am, what I bring to the table and how I work.”
Anderson was the topic of hypothesis forward of this 12 months’s commerce deadline. While acknowledging that any such resolution can be out of his management, Anderson mentioned he likes “where I’m at right now.”
Once his suspension is over and he returns to the sector, he hopes higher days are forward.
“If you aren’t going through anything, you aren’t growing,” Anderson mentioned. “I understand that it is a lot, but it has to be working toward something great, being at a point like this. I’m just going to keep going, just keep going, keep going and keep going. That’s all I can do. Just continue to keep hustling, keep working and see where it leads. Hopefully, it’s somewhere near greatness.”
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