Earlier this week, Adam LaRoche abruptly retired from baseball after the White Sox told him his 14-year-old son Drake was no longer allowed to be in the clubhouse on an everyday basis. Drake had been with the team pretty much every single day in 2015.
LaRoche is very popular throughout baseball, and his teammates were so upset he was pushed out the door that they nearly boycotted Wednesday's game. Staff ace Chris Sale reportedly ripped vice president Kenny Williams in a "contentious" meeting, telling him to stay out of the clubhouse.
On Friday, Sale hung a pair of Adam and Drake LaRoche jerseys in the team's clubhouse. Check it out:
Chris sale paying tribute to LaRoche family #whitesox pic.twitter.com/iz9pWDioC8
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) March 18, 2016
The two jerseys are signed by the LaRoches. Bob Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times says one of the two jerseys was signed "To Chris: Thanks for taking care of me. Drake LaRoche."
While talking with reporters Friday, Sale made it clear he was not only unhappy the LaRoches are gone, he feels management lied to the players. Check out these quotes:
Chris Sale: "This isn't us rebelling against rules. This is us rebelling against BS."
— Bill Shaikin (@BillShaikin) March 18, 2016
Chris Sale's issue with team VP Ken Williams: “Lying. We got bold faced lied to by someone we were supposed to trust."
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) March 18, 2016
Sale: 'We were a steam engine going ahead and kind of derailed it. There was absolutely no problem in here & [KW] kind of created a problem'
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) March 18, 2016
Todd Frazier told CBS Chicago's Bruce Levine no players complained about having Drake in the clubhouse. Williams, meanwhile, just wants everyone to get back to playing baseball and preparing for the regular season.
Kenny Williams no comment on LaRoche or Sale criticism: "It's time to get back into the routine of things."
— Jesse Rogers (@ESPNChiCubs) March 18, 2016
That's not a surprise. Williams doesn't want to get into a media war with his ace. This is something they'll need to settle behind closed doors.
"While I disagree with Chris' assertions today, I certainly have always appreciated his passion," added Williams in a statement.
If nothing else, the White Sox will not be boring this season. Sale is livid and calling the vice president a liar, and player rep Adam Eaton told Shaikin he will talk to the MLBPA about potentially filing a grievance. Eaton says LaRoche had a contract agreement allowing Drake into the clubhouse.
Sale and the White Sox are not only angry with the decision to remove Drake from the clubhouse, but also how it was communicated to them.
Sale:KW told players the coaches complained about Drake, told coaches the players complained. 'Then he came in here, said it was from owner'
— Daryl Van Schouwen (@CST_soxvan) March 18, 2016
The clubhouse is the player's place. Players don't like the front office coming in and making rules, and they certainly don't like being lied to. No organization can survive that level of dysfunction if it persists.
The team's policy -- kids are allowed in the clubhouse, just not every single day -- is entirely reasonable. It has turned into a total disaster though, one pitting the irreplaceable staff ace against management. Now the MLBPA may be getting involved. Yeesh.
