Adam LaRoche explains his decision to retire from baseball
On Tuesday afternoon White Sox 1B/DH Adam LaRoche abruptly retired from baseball with little
reasoning behind the announcement other than citing family issues.
We now have a reason for that decision, thanks to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
According to Rosenthal, LaRoche was basically told by White Sox President of Baseball Operations Kenny Williams that he would have to scale back bringing his son Drake LaRoche around the clubhouse in 2016.
"There has been no policy change with the regards to allowance of kids in the clubhouse, on the field, the back fields during spring training. This young man that we’re talking about, Drake, everyone loves this young man. In no way do I want this to be about him.I asked Adam, said, ‘Listen, our focus, our interest, our desire this year is to make sure we give ourselves every opportunity to focus on a daily basis on getting better. All I’m asking you to do with regard to bringing your kid to the ballpark is dial it back.’I don’t think he should be here 100 percent of the time – and he has been here 100 percent, every day, in the clubhouse. I said that I don’t even think he should be here 50 percent of the time. Figure it out, somewhere in between.We all think his kid is a great young man. I just felt that it should not be every day, that’s all. You tell me, where in this country can you bring your child to work every day?White Sox President of Baseball Operations, Kenny Williams on the matter of Adam LaRoche having his son Drake around the White Sox clubhouse according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. More from White Sox NewsWhite Sox Rumors: Tony La Russa could be back next weekWhite Sox: AL Central teams help them in standings on Wednesday3 White Sox under contract next year that fans are ready to move on fromMichael Kopech’s return didn’t go as planned but the White Sox wonMariners pitching staff owns the White Sox on Wednesday"
I’m sorry if anyone disagrees, but Kenny Williams is justified in his comments as well as his request to Adam. As much as baseball is a game, it’s also a business. A multi-million dollar business, where production and success from said production is paramount to anything else. Kenny Williams feels that the White Sox have an excellent team, and he doesn’t want anything distracting them from their goal of achieving success in 2016.
If he feels that having a player, any player’s child in the clubhouse on a daily basis is a distraction, then he is in the position to ensure that the situation changes.
LaRoche choosing to walk away from baseball rather than lose time spent with his son, is commendable for sure, but the White Sox not allowing LaRoche to spend that time with his son at his place of work is certainly not unjust.