Told to cut down his son’s time in the clubhouse, Chicago White Sox first baseman Adam LaRochetook a different path: He said he planned to retire and walk away from a $13 million salary.
White Sox President Kenny Williams confirmed Wednesday that he twice asked LaRoche in the last week to “dial it back” with his 14-year-old son.
Williams said Drake LaRoche was a “quality young kid” and not a distraction. But he indicated he didn’t want anything to deter the team’s focus this season.
“Sometimes you have to make decisions in this world that are unpopular,” Williams said before Chicago played Milwaukee.
The situation quickly bubbled up around spring training and was likely to stir debate beyond the sport. At issue, what’s a proper take-your-kid-to-work environment?
No word, yet, on what LaRoche would ultimately do or how the White Sox would fill his spot if he never comes back.
The 36-year-old said Tuesday that he abruptly planned to leave the game. White Sox general manager Rick Hahn termed it a “personal decision” without elaborating and LaRoche was asked to reconsider.
LaRoche drew plenty of support from fellow players. He’s is in his second year with the White Sox, his sixth team overall.
“Good for you Roche!” tweeted former teammate Bryce Harper, the reigning National League MVP. “Nothing like father and son in the clubhouse..It’s a FAMILY game.”
LaRoche knows about that. He grew up in a big league setting, his father and brother both played in the majors.
All over baseball, it’s been big league culture to see sons in the clubhouse and on the field with their dads for early pregame practice. Ken Griffey Jr., Cal Ripken Jr. and Prince Fielder are among the many stars who came up that way.
Different teams have had different rules. Some clubs allowed kids in the clubhouse after Sunday games, provided they won.
“On our side of things, I think everyone would say we enjoyed Drake LaRoche in the clubhouse and everything he brought to the clubhouse,” White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton said. “He helped out around and wasn’t a burden by any stretch of the imagination. He wasn’t a big problem last year, either.”
“Adam and Drake are probably the most respected people in baseball I ever played with. Drake would clean cleats, he would help out in drills, pick up baseballs when we needed, he didn’t say boo to anybody and was never a trouble in the clubhouse,” he said.
Said Williams: “I want to be very clear on something. It’s not because the young man was a distraction, not because he wasn’t well-received or well-liked by players management and everyone else.”
“He’s a quality, quality young kid that one day might be a heck of a player one day,” he added. “Anyway, one of the things we said coming into this season is ‘let’s check all the columns’ with regards to our preparation, our focus to give us every chance to win.”
That led to Williams speaking with LaRoche, who hit only .207 with 12 home runs last season.
“To have his child on the field 100 percent of the time, and that’s kind of where we were, every day, yeah, I asked him initially just dial it back. Even 50 percent is probably too much, but there is a wide range between zero and 50 percent,” he said.
“I was a little surprised at the stance that he took. It’s unfortunate. But talk about a quality decision, a life decision and a family decision. He talked about being there for his family and family first and front and center, and I respect and admire that,” he said.
The White Sox, out of the playoffs since 2008, made several moves in the offseason in hope of greatly improving their 76-86 record. No telling for sure whether LaRoche will be part of that effort.
“He seemed pretty convicted in his decision,” Williams said, adding, “he didn’t come back to talk to me about it before he made the decision. I thought there was enough flexibility built in.”
Williams emphasized that he thought “it’s great” to have kids around a team. “I just don’t think it’s great every day,” he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
IF OTHER DADS WANT THEIR SONS AND MAYBE DAUGHTERS TO BE IN THE AREAS WITH THE PLAYERS………THEY WOULD HAVE TO BE ALLOWED TO DO SO…………EVERY HOME GAME…………ITS A FAMILY GAME…….SO……..LET THEM SIT IN THE BLEACHERS WITH ALL OF THE OTHER FAMILIES………..
Dumb…
Where will the line be drawn? Some players have more than one child who would like to be in the clubhouse. If there is no line drawn what will be the final count to how many children are allowed? If no children are allowed then there can be no accusations of favoritism by other players. Now, how about nieces and nephews? If a player has NO children but feels it is favoritism if his extended family cannot enter? See where I am going? Stop it now. Once and for all. Oh, and of course the girls will also be allowed or someone will get a lawyer! Money, money, money.
Well, that’s a good lesson for the son. If you don’t get your way just quit.
Right you are,……!!!
This is one of those issues where good people are going to take different sides. With that said, this guy is a highly paid employee and the ball field is his workplace. The focus for the players need to be on winning games. We aren’t talking about a neighborhood team that gets together to play for fun.
I’ve had some of my co-workers to bring their kids to work. Most were well behaved, but ultimately the employee is there to work. The last thing most workplaces need is a lot of extra people in the way while they are trying to work.
Having children in NBA locker rooms certainly wouldn’t work. NBA players have multiple children none of whom have the same mother. Think of the sibling feuds.
Love your sense of humor!! A lot of truth to your humor as well!
And exactly how many of the NBA players you refer to with multiple kids by different mothers do you actually know. I thought so, none! Is it only the NBA where players have multiple kids by different mothers? You have no idea, so you need to stick to statements where you have verifiable facts!
Why is the headline “Son banned from clubhouse…”? The kid wasn’t banned, was he? As I read the article, the dad was asked, by the President, who has that prerogative, simply to “Dial it back, a little, with the kid”, in the interests of team focus, which seems like a reasonable request. I really think the dad over reacted. There’s a difference between accommodation and entitlement.
Another commentor has pointed out the possibility that a policy such as this could easily get abused, over used, and turn into a messy situation–nieces, nephews, and so on–that would certainly interfere with team focus. It’s hard for me to believe that this is a major problem, or could be ginned up into a major problem. I think everybody needs to chill a little and see this for what it is: a molehill that has been blown into a mountain. Wow, thin skin, much?
I do believe the Sox can find someone who hits north of .207 for a lot less than $13 million. Obviously, he wasn’t and hasn’t been motivated to excel for some time. He stated clearly that his priorities were with his family time. So be it, no hard feelings. Time for everyone to move on.
Go coach a little league team.
How many other baseball players want to bring their sons to the clubhouse? Maybe a schedule can be made so each players son can have a chance to be in the clubhouse. Maybe this ‘son thing’ came about because other players want a chance to bring their sons to clubhouse. I feel that one son in the clubhouse would be OK, but two or more would be problematic.
The Chicago clubhouse would be a safer spot than anywhere in that cesspool of a town called ChiTown! Left to the local elements the son could become a batter of sorts not using it on a baseball, rather whacking heads with it in Chicago! I say, have a kids day for prepping for the game as he was doing and after the game. During the game, go to the family seating area.