Written by Bob Nightengale at USAToday.com
Chicago White Sox ace Chris Saleaccused executive vice president Ken Williams of lying to players Friday, and says they have demanded a meeting with chairman Jerry Reinsdorf over the sudden retirement of teammate Adam LaRoche.
“We got bold-faced lied to,’’ said Sale, “by someone we were supposed to trust.
“This isn’t us rebelling against the rules. This is us rebelling against B.S., plain and simple.’’
Sale, who walked into the clubhouse Friday to find autographed jerseys with personal messages inscribed by LaRoche and the first baseman’s 14-year-old son, Drake, says players have an issue with only member of the White Sox organization: Williams.
“Somebody walked out of those doors the other day,’’ Sale said, “and it was the wrong guy. Plain and simple.’’
And LaRoche is not coming back.
LaRoche’s locker and his son’s locker, complete with the nameplates, still remain in the White Sox clubhouse. Yet, LaRoche told his teammates that he’s not changing his mind and is quitting baseball, White Sox outfielder and union representative Adam Eaton said, walking away from the $13 million remaining in his contract
LaRoche left the team Tuesday after Williams informed him that he must limit Drake’s clubhouse access.
In a statement released Friday afternoon, Reinsdorf said: “While we appreciate everyone’s attention and interest, we continue to feel that it would be premature to comment at this time. This is an internal issue and we are in the process of holding a number of discussions with the players, staff and the front office. As a result, we do not want to comment until that process is completed. I have instructed members of the organization not to talk about this issue and get our focus back on the field and winning baseball games.”
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