For LaRoche, Sox nearly boycotted
GETTY
YWHITE SO SOX players reportedly considered boycotting Wednesday’s sprin spring training game i n support of A Adam LaRoche, who abruptly retiredret Tuesday after the team presidentpresid asked that he limit his 14-year-old14-ye son’s visits to the clubhouse.
The team told manager Robin Ventura t hat it was “w “willingilli to st a nd b by t he playe player a nd not particip ticipate i n pra practice, and more so, notn particip ticipate in an ex h ibition g game,” accord according to ESPN, b but that Ventura talked them o out of it. (Chicago lost to Milwa Milwaukee, 5-2).
There is no league-wide policy on when players’ family members can join them. Concerns over the presence of players’ childr children led the Red Sox in 2014 to est establish guidelines limiting field a access, according to a report by Fo Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal. Other teams have their own loose codes codes. A spokesmen for the league and players’ union declined to co comment Thursday on whether su such a league-wide policy was n needed in the wake of the La LaRoche case.
M Major league ballparks typi typically reserve parking spots and seating for play players’ family members, and the collectivec bargaining agreement between the league and the union contains numerous accommodations for family members. For instance, the league’s resident security officers are required to coordinate with clubs on issues related to family security at ballparks. Five-year veterans who are performing injury rehabilitation work at their team’s spring training facilities are entitled, per the CBA, to receive first-class airfare and hotel accommodations for their family, as well as reimbursement for the cost of a family-size rental car. LaRoche walked out on a $13 million contract after White Sox president Kenny Williams told him he would need to limit the time LaRoche’s son, Drake, spent with the team. Drake LaRoche has joined his father in the clubhouse on an everyday basis for several seasons, including during his time with the Nationals. “The decision ... to limit the amount of time that a child can be in that clubhouse didn’t sit well with the players,” Karl Ravech said Thursday on ESPN’s “Mike and Mike” show. “I think now we have set up in Chicago a situation where managers and players are universally, universally in the same corner and president and GM perhaps could be very much in a different corner and the separation needs to be in place.”
LaRoche, a 36-year-old designated hitter, could still conceivably unwind his retirement decision before the season begins three weeks from now.
LaRoche’s own father, Dave, was a big-league pitcher who took his sons to the ballpark with him. Dave LaRoche pitched in the majors from 1970-83.
“Some of my best memories came with my dad taking us to the park, whether it was spring training or during the season,” LaRoche explained i n a 2013 Washington Post story. “It’s stuff I’ll never forget.
KENNY WILLIAMS