Adam Laroche retires abruptly.

[SweetHomeChicago]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/ct-adam-laroche-step-away-20160315-story.html

 

[Raskolnikov]

Hahahaha. Our one chance at a compliment power bat.

I'm real worried about this team being an embarrassment and doing something franchise destroying like trading Sale or abreu

 

[ChiSoxCity]

LaRoche retiring is a good thing. He just can't hit anymore. The Sox can now put Melky at DH where he belongs, shift Eaton or Jackson to LF, and hopefully, find a way to acquire a Jay Bruce or Carlos Gonzales to man right field and solidify what could be a very potent offense.


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[brett05]

I'm not privy to the reasons, but I wish nothing but the best for Adam.

Now as to the position. We get $13 million to play with. I'm quite alright with keeping the majority of that in case a deadline deal is needed. So how can the team fill it? Alex Rios and Justin Morneau are FA that would probably come on a cheap $2-3 million dollar deal. Alex and Melky could platoon while Justin and Jose could swap at times for rest as well.

Internally it looks like Davidson might have figured out his swing though it's so hard to tell with ST here. Another option internally would be to bring up a guy like Sands or Shuck which would be able to spell Melky. Travis Ishikawa was a pick up and would give a left handed bat possibly.

I like the idea best of going internally and the one I would use is Carlos Sanchez. He provides great versatility and would allow the DH spot to be filled in by everyday regulars that need a day off from the field.

 

[ChiSoxCity]

Brett, none of the names you mentioned are an improvement over LaRoche. Instead of wasting more money on warm bodies, they should use this opportunity to get an impact bat. The Sox claim to be in "win-now" mode, and there clearly isn't enough mlb ready talent internally. A trade or FA acquisition is the only way to upgrade the roster for 2016.


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[brett05]

Brett, none of the names you mentioned are an improvement over LaRoche. Instead of wasting more money on warm bodies, they should use this opportunity to get an impact bat. The Sox claim to be in "win-now" mode, and there clearly isn't enough mlb ready talent internally. A trade or FA acquisition is the only way to upgrade the roster for 2016.


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We disagree. I'm not sure Adam was ever going to come back with the bat. So immediately Alex and Justin are better options. And with Sanchez and a rotating DH of Lawrie, Melky, Frazier, Abreu, Eaton the team is a lot better again.

 

[brett05]

But let's go with an off the wall trade. Offer Saladino and a lower level pitching prospect like Danish for $42 million dollars and A-rod. Kenny has always loved the guy and you cover the DH spot for two seasons.

 

[Xplosive]

No more Rios. No concussed Morneau. Car-Go would be exciting even when striking out. Finally, hat tip to LaRoche for doing the right thing.

I agree with rotating DH for now until the right player is offered (not A-Rod)

 

[DMelt36]

You guys ready for the White Sox to get some national media attention? Because here it comes:

 

[DMelt36]

Rosenthal just posted this on Facebook:

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.

"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?"

 

[brett05]

The Tweet seems harsh, but the Facebook entry explains it clearly. If this is the reason Adam retired he's weak sauce.

 

[DMelt36]

I don't think there's a wrong/right side to this argument, personally.

I get why KW told LaRoche that he couldn't have his could around the clubhouse 24/7. I also can understand why LaRoche would decide to pick family over baseball and I respect him for that decision ... although I can think of 13 million reasons why I may have acted differently.

What's most interesting to me is why KW decided to have this talk with LaRoche now. I wonder if some other players decided that having a teenager in the clubhouse wasn't something they wanted to continue.

 

[DMelt36]

The Tweet seems harsh, but the Facebook entry explains it clearly. If this is the reason Adam retired he's weak sauce.

Yeah, sometimes situations need a little more nuance than 140 characters can provide.

 

[brett05]

It's work. Visiting is fine, but basically living with Dad? And let's not talk about the KS school system that allows Laroche to miss so much school. If anyone is going to look bad in this it''s Adam and the KS Public Schools.

 

[The Hawk]

I don't think there's a wrong/right side to this argument, personally.

I get why KW told LaRoche that he couldn't have his could around the clubhouse 24/7. I also can understand why LaRoche would decide to pick family over baseball and I respect him for that decision ... although I can think of 13 million reasons why I may have acted differently.

What's most interesting to me is why KW decided to have this talk with LaRoche now. I wonder if some other players decided that having a teenager in the clubhouse wasn't something they wanted to continue.

I think that it is really stupid to allow a young teenage kid in a major league locker room in the first place and don't understand why this happened in the first place. A couple of times, okay just to see what goes on a daddy's work but every day? Come-on.

$13M and you are walking away from that? Crazy

 

[Diehardfan]

If LaRoche was a bigger cog on the wheel this might be a big story. But coming off the season he had last year....it's more like the "meh" story of the spring.

 

[ChiSoxCity]

Well, a VP had to ask him to "dial it back." Pretty much tells me that LaRoche was embarrassing himself and his teammates. Must have been an awkward locker room too. KW did the right thing, and I'm glad LaRoche is gone. Worst DH in the league.


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[The Hawk]

What I'd do is donate his salary to a charity that helps crippled children to get help with their needs. That is a lot of money that could be spread around to make a positive influence in kids lives.

 

[Shawon0Meter]

Well, a VP had to ask him to "dial it back." Pretty much tells me that LaRoche was embarrassing himself and his teammates. Must have been an awkward locker room too. KW did the right thing, and I'm glad LaRoche is gone. Worst DH in the league.


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This right here.

I don't care how good of a kid he is, at some point it's awkward and too much. I bet the majority of the locker room isn't bothered by this decision.

 

[BlackHawkPaul]

This dude made 7+M after taxes. He couldn't spring for a baby sitter?
I get bringing your kid in every so often to see players, maybe some Sox wangs, but every day? That had to be awkward as hell.

Hell, buy a season ticket or 2, get a club pass so the little dude can hang out. You know there's seats available.
Pick him up after the game.

Sounds like entitlement going off the rails.