LaRoche left because Sox wanted to limit son's presence

It came out Wednesday that the reason Fort Scott High School graduate Adam LaRoche chose to leave the Chicago White Sox was because of a request from the organzation to "dial back" how often his son, Drake, was in the clubhouse.

LaRoche, 36, told his teammates about his decision in a two-hour meeting. He later said, "Thank u Lord for the game of baseball and for giving me way more than I ever deserved! #FamilyFirst" on his Twitter account, @e3laroche.

Although there was an indication that LaRoche might give more insight into his decision, as of Thursday night's deadline, he had not done so. This leaves piecing together what happened out of various reports.

Drake, 14, has been a part of spring training and other activities since he was 11, when LaRoche was with the Washington Nationals.

Oddly, White Sox team president Kenny Williams, who made the request to LaRoche, seemed to appreciate his team's unity in the meeting as they stood behind LaRoche's decision and asked him to reconsider.

Some reports indicate that there were players who had a problem with the LaRoches and suggest that Williams is taking the heat so that they're not outed in the media.

There were also reports that White Sox pitcher Chris Sale was angry with Williams to the point of going on a profanity-laced tirade.

"F-bombs aplenty flew during the White Sox's meeting with Kenny Williams," Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan tweeted. "Players so p----d they considered a boycott, as (ESPN's Karl Ravech) said.

"And all of this dovetails with the question of whether players complained and Williams was just the messenger who took the bullet for them," Passan said in another tweet.

Passan said that Chicago general manager Rick Hahn and field manager Robin Ventura both OK'd Drake's presence. Williams then came in and unilaterally made his statement, which upset the players.

White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton told Colleen Kane of the Chicago Tribune that the players wanted Drake in the clubhouse.

"(W)e were backing Adam in every aspect," Eaton said. "In that sense we're going to miss him. He chose family over allowing his son to be in the clubhouse, and we respect what he had to do. The man and the character that Adam LaRoche is, we're not surprised he chose his family.

"Adam and Drake are probably the most respected people I've ever played with. Drake would clean cleats, he would help out in drills, he'd help pick up baseballs. He didn't say boo to anybody. Never a trouble in the clubhouse."

There were also reports on Thrusday indicating the Najor League Baseball Players Association planned to file a grievance on LaRoche's behalf as Drake's presence was apparently allowed as part of LaRoche's contract.

"Big ups to my boy @e3laroche for standing up for his beliefs. We play a GAME! Good for u brother. #FamilyFirst" -- Chipper Jones, LaRoche's former teammate in Atlanta, on Twitter (@realcj10)

"Been bringing my kid to work since she was 14. Worked out well. #FamilyFirst @e3laroche" -- "Duck Dynasty" star Willie Robertson on his Twitter account (@williebosshog).

"The (White Sox) made what is ... not just a reasonable request; it ought to be a mandtory request. No kids, nobody's kid need to be in a professional locker room every day. It never should have happened in the first place." -- Michael Wilbon on Wednesday's "Pardon the Interruption" broadcast on ESPN.

"The history of baseball, that culture has kids in it. Pete Rose used to bring his kid all the time. Ken Griffey (Jr.) brought his kid all the time. Mark McGuire, when he was doing well, he had his son there. This is what he grew up with and he wanted to (share) it with his child." -- Tony Kornheiser, in rebuttal to Wilbon on "PTI" before later saying that he agreed with Wilbon.