According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, Adam LaRoche's reason for retiring is because the White Sox discouraged LaRoche from bringing his son into the clubhouse. The Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday that LaRoche has told the White Sox that he will retire.
Rosenthal tweeted Wednesday:
“Just talked to #White Sox president Ken Williams. Here is what he told me about LaRoche:
‘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.’
Rosenthal earlier Wednesday tweeted these words from Blaine Boyer, a former teammate of LaRoche’s, also a former Brave and a graduate of Walton High: “(LaRoche) 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.”
Williams responded to that by telling Rosenthal:
“I respect the man and his decision. I can’t disagree with what (Boyer) said about Adam as a person. But I take exception to the ‘evil’ part.”
