Simon outdueled by Sale, says he's been hurt all season
Chicago — So now we know.
Alfredo Simon revealed after the Tigers’ 2-1 loss to Chris Sale and the Chicago White Sox on Friday that he had been pitching with a damaged left knee all season.
“I’ve been pitching hurt all year,” said Simon, a free agent this offseason. “My knee is not 100 percent. I don’t want to go on the DL because I want to throw 32 games, so when I go to free agency I won’t hurt my career.
“It was hurt all year. But I keep pitching no matter if I pitch good or not. I thank God I was able to finish strong.”
Simon offered up that news bolt when he was asked if he could explain his maddening inconsistency this season. After starting the season 4-0 with a 1.65 ERA, he went 9-11 with a 5.87 ERA through September.
BOX SCORE: White Sox 2, Tigers 1
Then, in perhaps his final start as a Tiger, he allowed just two runs and five hits, getting a season-high 13 ground-ball outs against the White Sox.
“Sometimes I feel I cannot pitch, but I don’t want to go on the DL,” he said. “I have to handle the pain, put it in my head strong and go. It’s tough. I lose my velocity sometimes because my knee hurts.”
A sore landing knee would certainly explain why he was as erratic as he was. There were games — one that he won — in which his fastball didn’t hit 89 mph. Last season, his average fastball was over 95 mph. This year, it was 93.
He always had the left knee wrapped and iced before and after starts, going back to spring training. When he was asked about it throughout the season, he said it was his normal routine to the ice the knee.
Presumably the Tigers medical staff was aware he was playing through pain. Presumably tests were taken to make sure the knee was structurally sound, though that could not be confirmed after the game.
Simon said he does not expect to have surgery on the knee in the offseason. He said he was flying back to Detroit Saturday to get a platelet rich plasma (PRP) injection.
“They are going to check me out, put blood in my knee and then I am going to work hard at home,” Simon said. “Then I am going to come hard next year.”
Simon also said he had a PRP injection in December before the Tigers acquired him.
“When I got traded, I had no chance to make it strong,” he said. “That’s why in spring training you see me with ice all the time. It’s because I was hurt, not 100 percent.”
It's hard to know how to take Simon’s after-the-fact admission that he was hurt. That he gutted it out for the benefit of his free agent value — and perhaps at the expense of the team, especially on those seven starts when he allowed six or more runs — won’t sit well with the Tigers front office.
Also, admitting now that he has a knee injury will be a red flag for teams that might consider signing him this offseason. He will certainly be subjected to some thorough medical exams this winter.
“It’s been a rollercoaster ride,” said manager Brad Ausmus, who spoke before Simon revealed his injury. “He’s been real good and he’s been real bad. Tonight he was real good. Unfortunately, he was going up against an outstanding pitcher on the other side.”
Simon allowed only a two-run double to Adam Eaton. Sale, who pitched seven innings, allowed only a solo home run to Jefry Marte.
Sale struck out seven. His second-inning strikeout of James McCann was his 270th this season, breaking the franchise’s 107-year-old record. He finished with 274, fourth most in the major leagues since 2004.
Facing a Tigers lineup without Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Ian Kinsler, he allowed four hits, just one from the end of the second through the seventh when he retired 16 of 17.
He was also the beneficiary of a sensational diving catch and juggle by right fielder JB Shuck. With two outs in the seventh, Dixon Machado sliced a long drive toward the corner in right.
Shuck, moving to his left, dived and snared the ball. The ball popped out of his glove as he hit the ground and rolled, but he managed to catch the bobble with his bare hand.
The Tigers squandered a chance to tie the game in the eighth. Josh Wilson, who singled in the second, doubled off Sale to lead it off. Anthony Gose was hit by a pitch and Sale’s night was done.
Rajai Davis flew out to right field off reliever Matt Albers, sending Wilson to third. But Andrew Romine’s fly to left was too shallow to score the run (though the throw from left-fielder Trayce Thompson was high) and J.D. Martinez grounded out to third.
Asked if holding Wilson at third on Romine’s fly out was the right move, Ausmus said, “Yeah. Let’s not forget, the guy with the most home runs on our team is on deck. If Wilson gets thrown out there, J.D. doesn’t get a chance.”
White Sox closer David Robertson pitched a 1-2-3 ninth, getting called third strikes on Nick Castellanos and Marte — much to Ausmus’ chagrin.
“I was not real happy about it,” said Ausmus who barked at home plate ump Doug Eddings. “I am going to assume he had a bad inning.”
Pressed on it, Ausmus said, “I am not going to get into bad-mouthing the umpire. I didn’t agree with his strike zone in the ninth. I made that pretty clear from the dugout. There’s nothing we can do about it now.”
Afterward, Simon was asked if he thought he had pitched his final game as a Tiger.
“I cannot say that,” he said. “I would like to stay here. I will be hoping I can come back here. It’s a good group of guys. I hope they talk to me before I sign somewhere else.”
chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com
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