The Adam LaRoche saga has gone from weird story to full-blown bizarre sideshow this week.
In case you’re not caught up, LaRoche abruptly retired from baseball after White Sox team president Ken Williams requested that he not bring his 14-year-old son, Drake, into the clubhouse every day. Drake became somewhat of a rallying force for the team last season; he was dubbed the “26th man” and accompanied his dad to the ballpark every day, even on the road.
This week, the 36-year-old veteran first baseman decided he’d rather leave $13 million in salary on the table than occasionally leave his son at home. Say what you want about that decision, but his convictions are clear.
It became apparent that LaRoche’s White Sox teammates weren’t happy with the way that the whole thing was handled when they nearly boycotted a Spring Training game earlier this week. If that didn’t send a strong enough message to Williams, veteran pitcher Chris Sale made sure to drive it home on Friday.
Chris sale paying tribute to LaRoche family #whitesox pic.twitter.com/iz9pWDioC8
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 18, 2016
A whole locker room tribute/shrine seems a bit excessive, considering nobody is dead or remotely close to it. Nonetheless, Sale is clearly upset.
Chris Sale: We got bold faced lied to. #WhiteSox
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 18, 2016
Chris Sale said Ken Williams told "bald-faced lie," variously blamed teammtes, coaches and management for change in Drake La Roche's access.
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) March 18, 2016
Chris Sale accuses #WhiteSox VP Ken Williams of lying to team, and now have a meeting scheduled with Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf.
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 18, 2016
Williams said earlier this week that he’s fine if people want to point fingers and blame him for suggesting that his team may be better off without Drake around 100 percent of the time, but one has to wonder if he anticipated the blowback he’s gotten thus far. Heck, the players union is even getting involved.
Player rep Adam Eaton said Adam LaRoche had clause in contract to allow son and players union now involved #whitesox
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 18, 2016
Who knows if the rest of the White Sox are as pissed off as Sale and Eaton are, but it’s kind of hard to believe that at least some grown men may not want a 14-year-old around the clubhouse every day. Either way, at the very least a minority of the veterans are being very vocal about the ordeal, and basically everyone looks silly in this absurd circus.
