DENVER — Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson said Friday he has to be better after he let his emotions get the better of him in a heated moment with Cleveland Guardians slugger José Ramírez.
Anderson was suspended for six games after he fought with Ramírez on Aug. 5, triggering a wild brawl between the AL Central rivals. He had his punishment reduced to five games in a settlement with Major League Baseball that was announced on Thursday.
Anderson started serving the suspension with Friday night’s series opener at Colorado.
“I’m kind of at a point in my career where I’ve never been here before,” Anderson said in his first meeting with the media since the altercation. “I have, but I haven’t. There’s something that I’m wrestling with, trying to continue to keep trying to find that positive with a lot of negative things that are going around. It’s kind of hard to find that positive.
“I’m obsessed with continuing to keep getting better — a better player, a better person — and just understand what I’m up against.”
The fight started after Ramírez slid headfirst into second base between Anderson’s legs with an RBI double. He seemed upset by a hard tag and jumped to his feet. The two exchanged words, 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 raising his hands and assuming a boxer’s stance. The players threw punches, with Ramírez connecting with a blind shot that dropped Anderson on his backside.
Chicago White Sox shortstop Tim Anderson forces New York Yankees’ Harrison Bader out at second and gets Kyle Higashioka at first to turn the double play during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, in Chicago. Credit: AP/Charles Rex Arbogast
Ramírez missed two games after initially being suspended for three. Both managers, along with Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase and third base coach Mike…
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