White Sox VP Kenny Williams Responds To Adam LaRoche Controversy

Adam LaRoche announced his retirement from baseball on Tuesday in a surprise move, since he was set to make $13 million in 2016. On Wednesday, it came to light that LaRoche had chosen to hang up his spikes because the Chicago White Sox had told him he could no longer bring his 14-year-old son Drake into the clubhouse. The White Sox have now responded to those claims.

White Sox president Kenny Williams told Ken Rosenthal the following:

"There has been no policy change with 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 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? I respect the man and his decision. I can’t disagree with what (Blaine Boyer) said about Adam as a person. But I take exception to the “evil” part."

Boyer had told Rosenthal the following about LaRoche:

"He is an unbelievable husband, an unbelievable father, a friend you can only dream of. I honestly think this is between good and evil. I know which side Adam lives on. I’m thankful to see the way he’s acting. It’s an unbelievable test of who he is, the husband he is, the father he is."

Honestly, I understand both perspectives here. The White Sox want their players focused on baseball. It’s a business, and this is work. If you had an office job and brought your kid to work everyday, you would probably get pulled aside and talked to about it. Then again, LaRoche just wants to spend more time with his son, so obviously I understand that angle as well.

If the White Sox had told LaRoche his kid was never welcome around the team, that would be one thing, but it seems they just asked him to dial it back a bit. That doesn’t seem like an unreasonable request and doesn’t seem to be “evil” as Boyer put it.