White Sox Chair Jerry Reinsdorf yesterday "did what he could do bring closure to the Adam LaRoche fiasco," releasing a statement in which he "acknowledged the Sox’ poor handling of it and ordering Sox employees to say no more on an ultra sensitive subject," according to Daryl Van Schouwen of the CHICAGO SUN-TIMES. Reinsdorf said in part, "Much of this was a result of miscommunication and misunderstanding rather than this being a case of anyone not telling the truth.” Reinsdorf said his respect for LaRoche "has grown during this process and I applaud his desire to spend more time with his family." Reinsdorf: "I do not believe there is anyone to directly blame in this situation. While there is no doubt this might have been handled differently, the fact remains that this is an internal matter that we have discussed and now resolved. Per my request, White Sox employees will no longer discuss this matter publicly." Van Schouwen notes Reinsdorf "met with team leaders" on Friday, some individually. In the end, Reinsdorf "remained loyal to his people as he almost always does, and the Sox lost a player teammates valued for leadership qualities and clubhouse presence" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/21). In Chicago, Colleen Kane noted P Chris Sale, one day after "ripping" Exec VP Ken Williams for his handling of the situation, was "more subdued" on Saturday. Sale, who met individually with Reinsdorf, said, "From yesterday forward, we're showing up to play baseball. I don't think there's anything else to talk about. We have a job to do, and that's what we're here for." Several players said that they were "ready to move on" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/20).
SETTING A PRECEDENT? USA TODAY's Bob Nightengale reported several players and staff members "privately complained to White Sox management recently about the constant presence of LaRoche’s 14-year-old son" (USATODAY.com, 3/19). White Sox C Alex Avila said, "I can't think of anybody having a problem with him being here. If someone had a problem with it, they faked it really well. It seemed like everyone enjoyed his company." He added, "This definitely could have been handled differently" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/20). ESPN.com's Buster Olney reported there is "general surprise that the White Sox allowed a situation in which a player's son could be in the clubhouse every single day." One AL official said, "That's a lot. The problem is the precedent. What do you say to the next player who asks for that? What happens if five players ask for that?" (ESPN.com, 3/18). In Boston, Nick Cafardo noted for Williams to "make this an issue, it had to come from someone inside the clubhouse who found the situation getting to be a little too much" (BOSTON GLOBE, 3/19).
THE BLAME GAME: YAHOO SPORTS' Mark Townsend wrote when Reinsdorf "says there's no one to blame, he's not wrong." When he "suggests it's time to move on, he's absolutely right." But "hopefully lessons can be taken from this saga." Those lessons should "ensure such matters are discussed and handled more professionally in the future, while giving those involved more time to digest and think before they react" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 3/20). In N.Y., Mike Lupica wrote Williams "is not the bad guy here," and LaRoche "isn't a victim." LaRoche "doesn’t refuse to sit in the back of the bus here." He "makes a choice to get off it, acting as if the White Sox are somehow interfering with his right to be a good dad." Lupica: "They’re not" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 3/20). In Chicago, Barry Rozner writes this "is the essence" of Reinsdorf. He is an "adult even when all about him are acting like children." He has "been around long enough to expect players -- and sometimes managers and coaches -- to act like clowns, and yet he doesn't hold it against them." There is "no reason to think he's going to punish Chris Sale for his absurd behavior last week." Reinsdorf is "quick to forgive, even if he doesn't necessarily forget." Many would "properly argue that Reinsdorf is loyal and generous to a fault, but as bad habits go, there are worse curses for a human to employ" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 3/21).
THE UNTOUCHABLES: In Chicago, Paul Sullivan writes the "only certainty in this saga is that Williams will survive, just as he has done since replacing Ron Schueler" as GM in '00. Sullivan: "If there is one untouchable in the Sox organization, it's Ken Williams" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 3/21). ESPN’s Pedro Gomez said Reinsdorf is “one of the most loyal owners in all of baseball.” He said Reinsdorf is not the "type to say, ‘Hey, you’ve got to hit the road,’ because that’s just not the way Reinsdorf is.” Williams has been with the club since ’92 so “it’s highly doubtful that he’s going to be let go anytime soon” (“SportsCenter,” ESPN, 3/18). In Seattle, Larry Stone wrote the whole situation "was clumsily handled by Williams, muting his thoroughly defensible point that it’s not conducive to team-building for LaRoche to have his kid around 24/7" (SEATTLE TIMES, 3/20). In Chicago, Mike Imrem writes if the controversy "didn't expose the Sox as dysfunctional, they at best come out looking clumsy and awkward." Imrem writes of Reinsdorf, "Maybe it's time for new management people if your current management people can't communicate well enough to keep from embarrassing the Sox" (Chicago DAILY HERALD, 3/21). Also in Chicago, David Haugh wrote Williams "became an easy villain because of his big ego." The "venom with which Sale spoke of Williams clearly had built up for years, not days." The criticism of Williams from the outside "likely was based on controversies in his past more than matters in the present." The White Sox now will either "bond over a common cause or let the organizational divisiveness destroy them" (CHICAGOTRIBUNE.com, 3/19). The SUN-TIMES' Rick Telander wrote, "I don't know all the inner workings of this angry players-vs.-Williams faceoff, but I can guarantee it's not just about LaRoche and his abrupt 'retirement.'" It is "about principle and past interactions." Telander: "You don't go after the second-highest-ranking team executive like this without some earlier issues" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/19).
