Adam LaRoche

[wvjules]

What are your thoughts on him retiring because he has to limit the amount time he brings his kid to work?

Me? I think he sounds like an entitled adult that is taking his ball and going home because he didn't get his way. And, IMO, his son shouldn't be at practice, on the bench, all the time. It's a job, even if it is playing a game.

 

[DisneyOma]

What are your thoughts on him retiring because he has to limit the amount time he brings his kid to work?

Me? I think he sounds like an entitled adult that is taking his ball and going home because he didn't get his way. And, IMO, his son shouldn't be at practice, on the bench, all the time. It's a job, even if it is playing a game.

Since he is an employee (or was) he should follow the dictates of his employer, or leave. So he did - leave, that is. I don't see what the media fuss is about.

I wonder why he felt the need to have his child with him (and is it his only child?) when he was supposed to be working? Whose responsibility is it to watch the kid when dad has to actually do work? Even if the kid is old enough to stay out of the way, who is liable if he gets hurt, etc?

I guess dad needs to start a family business?

 

[pryncess527]

The White Sox are fully within their rights to decide who can be in their locker room and at practice
If that makes LaRoche's job unpleasant in some way, or less fun than it used to be -- well, he doesn't need the money, so I suppose he also enjoys the freedom to tell his employer to shove it. I can't imagine picking that battle, but I also appreciate a person saying "you know what, I don't need the money, I don't have to put up with things I don't like" I don't think that makes him entitled. He has freedom, he's exercising it.

I take more issue with him saying "We’re not big on school. I told my wife, ‘He’s going to learn a lot more useful information in the clubhouse than he will in the classroom, as far as life lessons"

Home-school all you like, but i'm pretty sure a curriculum is required. Learning "useful" stuff in the clubhouse doesn't strike me as a substitute for an education.

 

[nkereina]

Well, the White Sox did perpetuate the situation for years by giving the kid his own locker, uniform, etc. Did something happen recently where someone complained that they had to put a stop to it? From everything I've heard, it sounds as if this came out of left field (no pun intended!). It's also my understanding that LaRoche was talking retirement at the end of the season anyhow before any of this happened, so he just said to heck with it. He had one foot out the door anyway.

 

[Livvie]

What are your thoughts on him retiring because he has to limit the amount time he brings his kid to work?

Me? I think he sounds like an entitled adult that is taking his ball and going home because he didn't get his way. And, IMO, his son shouldn't be at practice, on the bench, all the time. It's a job, even if it is playing a game.

He and his wife don't "believe" in school for their kids, if that tells you anything. Yes, it's a job and his child shouldn't be tagging along with Dad.

 

[soccerdad72]

It would be nice to be in a position where walking away from a $13 million contract was no big deal, but I suppose that's his choice to make.

I can't imagine that the White Sox will get much push back on this story - they're well within their rights to set limits on clubhouse access to player's families.

 

[wilkeliza]

Well, the White Sox did perpetuate the situation for years by giving the kid his own locker, uniform, etc. Did something happen recently where someone complained that they had to put a stop to it? From everything I've heard, it sounds as if this came out of left field (no pun intended!). It's also my understanding that LaRoche was talking retirement at the end of the season anyhow before any of this happened, so he just said to heck with it. He had one foot out the door anyway.

Last year was his first year. They got him in a 2 year contract deal. I think last year it was a sure bring him as much as you want and it got out of hand. Laroche under performed and so did the Sox in general so management took at look at what's going on at spring training and what happened last year and realized this kid is here way too much. This is an abuse of the bring your kids to the club house policy.

 

[soccerdad72]

Well, the White Sox did perpetuate the situation for years by giving the kid his own locker, uniform, etc. Did something happen recently where someone complained that they had to put a stop to it? From everything I've heard, it sounds as if this came out of left field (no pun intended!). It's also my understanding that LaRoche was talking retirement at the end of the season anyhow before any of this happened, so he just said to heck with it. He had one foot out the door anyway.

He was only in Chicago during 2015. Before that, he was in Washington, who, apparently, allowed his son to be around a lot as well, however.

I would be curious if the White Sox would be pushing the same rule for a player who didn't bat .207 last season.

 

[morgan98]

I heard this story this morning on the way to work and thought it was strange. Not that he was asked to not bring his kid around, but rather, that the kids was really spending all that time there anyway.

I guess he and his wife are free to not believe in school, but I find it odd that spending all that time in a locker room at with the team would not be weird anyway. He should be spending time with some peers doing normal kid things, in my opinion. Not hanging around the locker room. Not to mention, as other have said, it is a job and some rules should be expected.

 

[nkereina]

Last year was his first year. They got him in a 2 year contract deal. I think last year it was a sure bring him as much as you want and it got out of hand. Laroche under performed and so did the Sox in general so management took at look at what's going on at spring training and what happened last year and realized this kid is here way too much. This is an abuse of the bring your kids to the club house policy.

He was only in Chicago during 2015. Before that, he was in Washington, who, apparently, allowed his son to be around a lot as well, however.

I would be curious if the White Sox would be pushing the same rule for a player who didn't bat .207 last season.

Ohhh gotcha. I missed that last season was his first year with the White Sox. That makes sense then. I don't have a problem with the White Sox asking him to scale it back, but I don't have a problem with him retiring because of it either, especially since he was on his way out anyhow.

 

[wilkeliza]

Ohhh gotcha. I missed that last season was his first year with the White Sox. That makes sense then. I don't have a problem with the White Sox asking him to scale it back, but I don't have a problem with him retiring because of it either, especially since he was on his way out anyhow.

That's how I feel at the end of the day. It is the management's right to say something and make rules and the players have the right to leave if they don't like it. I've heard some backlash because it was the VP who made the decision and not the players managers but it is his right to make that. Some think the business guys should stay out of the club house but the business guys are the ones who cut the check so if they don't like something they can change it.


It sounds like LaRoche's own dad use to take them to the ball park a lot when he was little and he wanted that with his own son. However he doesn't just go to every single home game or practice. This kid is at spring training, at away games for several week stretches, and at every home game. The family also doesn't home school they just have a deal with the teachers of their kids to give them weeks worth of work to take on the road.

I bet no guy was going to say it but it had to be hard for them to think of their own kids back home who they only got to skype with when out on the road but then to come in and see some other guy with his kid. Of course they are only going to say how nice and well mannered the boy is but I bet it made their homesickness and thus game even worse.

 

[MickeySP]

ITA with all that was said.

He is taking his ball & going home. Self entitled little - no big - brat.

 

[sk!mom]

Last year was his first year. They got him in a 2 year contract deal. I think last year it was a sure bring him as much as you want and it got out of hand. Laroche under performed and so did the Sox in general so management took at look at what's going on at spring training and what happened last year and realized this kid is here way too much. This is an abuse of the bring your kids to the club house policy.

He was only in Chicago during 2015. Before that, he was in Washington, who, apparently, allowed his son to be around a lot as well, however.

I would be curious if the White Sox would be pushing the same rule for a player who didn't bat .207 last season.

Agreed. I think it's possible that Chicago didn't realize that this was going to be a situation of the kid ALWAYS there. Road trips, Spring Training- always. It was likely much more than they wanted. Also possible that since he wasn't performing, they had some leverage to demand a change. If he were having a fantastic season they might have left it alone.

I bet no guy was going to say it but it had to be hard for them to think of their own kids back home who they only got to skype with when out on the road but then to come in and see some other guy with his kid. Of course they are only going to say how nice and well mannered the boy is but I bet it made their homesickness and thus game even worse.

Yep, I wondered this morning how many players might have quietly complained to management. You would feel some pressure to adjust your behavior with a kid around. If it was an occasional thing- no big deal. But always might have been uncomfortable for others.

 

[Jennasis]

A locker room is no place for a kid and it likely made the players uncomfortable letting loose in there with him around

The decision was made, in part, by suggestions from the players as well after a lengthy meeting according to the news report I watched this morning.

Work is work. Go to work and concentrate on your job Mr. .207. I can't bring my husband or my dogs etc to work either. You knew going in that being a pro ball player means LOTS of time away from the wife and kids.

 

[IndyRnRfan]

I bet the schools in his neighborhood are glad they are home schooling. This kid and family would be a nightmare. They don't sound like the sharpest tools in the shed.

 

[Jdbsfw]

The players are ticked and were going to "boycott" practice to support LaRoche until talked out of it by Robin Ventura. MLB player's union is incredibly strong and players run the clubhouse, not team executives.

 

[low-key]

Go to work and keep the brat at home

 

[ICF]

Go to work and keep the brat at home

no need to call the kid names. You know nothing of his behavior around the team or in any other situation.

Most kids would love to be able to spend all that time around a pro sports team....have a locker / uniform etc. The situation is not really his fault.

His dad shouldn't have brought him all the time. I'd guess a locker room situation isn't a normally kid friendly environment and really, what parent can or should take their kid to work everyday???

 

[Jennasis]

You know...it's not like they said the could could NEVER come to the clubhouse. Just not all the freakin' time.

 

[Lynne M]

The players are ticked and were going to "boycott" practice to support LaRoche until talked out of it by Robin Ventura. MLB player's union is incredibly strong and players run the clubhouse, not team executives.

From what I read, only some of the players wanted to boycott. Others were pleased that management had acted.