LaRoche Clips

The day was full of Adam LaRoche news in what has to be one of the most confusing baseball stories I’ve ever seen. First I see Steve Rosenbloom of the Chicago Tribune coming down on LaRoche for quitting on the team:

Why were White Sox players so rabidly defending Adam LaRoche when he walked out on them?

I mean, he’d rather quit than try to win. He’d rather quit on his teammates than try to win the World Series. Some teammate.

Good point. The players on the White Sox stayed in the LaRoche camp, however. Tony Clark of the MLBPA has not ruled out a grievance:

“The question becomes when a player makes a decision to retire, that means one thing,” Clark said. “If there is a discipline involved, that means something different. We are 24 hours removed from everything that you are aware of. And I can suggest to you that we are likely aware of a little bit more, but aren’t in a position to suggest what tomorrow is going to look like, as a result of what happened yesterday.”

One avenue for a grievance would be the language of LaRoche’s contract. Williams has said the deal did not guarantee Drake’s constant presence with the team. But on Wednesday night, Chicago radio host David Kaplan reported that allowing Drake in the clubhouse was “a condition of LaRoche signing there.” The Twitter account for E3 Meat, a company owned by LaRoche, replied with a thumbs-up emoji and the message, “you are on to something.”

If that’s the case, then why retire? Just keep bringing the youngster to the clubhouse, and when the team levies a fine, fight the fine!

Finally, Kenny Williams appears to have lost the best player on the White Sox, Chris Sale:

Sale said Williams has told three different stories on why the decision was made to limit 14-year-old Drake LaRoche’s access to the clubhouse, prompting his father to leave the team and a contract that would have paid him $13 million this season.

“Somebody walked out of those doors the other day and it was the wrong guy,” Sale said.

Sale contends that Williams has contradicted himself, first saying that players complained about LaRoche’s son being in the clubhouse, then saying it was coaches who spoke against it and then saying the decision came down from ownership.

“We got bald-faced lied to by someone that we trust,” Sale said.

I suspect if the White Sox had to choose between Sale and Williams, Williams is shown the door.

I’m sorry to say this seems like two stubborn individuals not able to come to an agreement over what amounts to a trivial matter to the rest of the world. Why did the White Sox suddenly care about something that went on for a year? Why was LaRoche so quick to pull the plug on his career? Did the White Sox front office want LaRoche gone, and knew which button to push? Does LaRoche think his 2015 season wasn’t a fluke, and this way he walks away from the game without admitting he can no longer play? The plot of The Big Sleep is easier to follow.

from baseballmusings.com http://ift.tt/1RrRdhz