Report: White Sox nearly boycotted game over Adam LaRoche’s son
The ongoing saga between the Chicago White Sox and Adam LaRoche just took another bizarre turn. As a show of support for LaRoche and his son Drake, White Sox players considered boycotting Wednesday’s spring training game against the Milwaukee Brewers, according to ESPN’s Karl Ravech.
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The protest was squashed after manager Robin Ventura stepped in and persuaded the players to take the field.
While Ventura quieted a possible boycott, it’s clear there’s still some animosity between the players and the team’s front office over the decision to limit Drake LaRoche’s clubhouse access.
After Wednesday’s game, White Sox outfielder Adam Eaton tweeted support for LaRoche and his family.
LaRoche appeared to abruptly announce his retirement Tuesday, but it was revealed Wednesday that he did so after team president Kenny Williams asked him to limit his son’s time in the team’s clubhouse. LaRoche’s son, Drake, has been a huge part of his father’s career, dating back to the elder LaRoche’s days with the Washington Nationals.
Williams confirmed that the team asked LaRoche to bring his son around less, but made it seem as though the two sides could reach a reasonable agreement on the matter. That doesn’t appear to be the case, as all signs point to LaRoche retiring.
The entire situation makes for a potentially toxic aura between the team and front office. It’s clear LaRoche and his son had the support of many players, and even if Williams’ request was reasonable, it’s created a scenario where the two sides are now pitted against each other.
It also puts manager Robin Ventura in an awkward place. Ventura is entering the final year of his contract, and was already on the hot seat if the club got off to a bad start. Now, he was to navigate a toxic situation between his bosses without losing the support of the clubhouse.
[Related: Adam LaRoche retired after White Sox wanted to limit his son’s clubhouse access]
The fact that all of this is happening just a few weeks before the start of the regular seasons only adds to the drama. At this point of the year, the White Sox should be focused on getting ready for the regular season. Instead, the team is embroiled in controversy.
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Chris Cwik is a writer for Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @Chris_Cwik
