March 17--White Sox center fielder Adam Eaton said Wednesday he was "on eggshells" addressing the news that teammate Adam LaRoche was likely to retire because of the club's restrictions on his son's time with the team.
Eaton emphatically supported LaRoche in his conflict with Sox executive vice president Ken Williams, who last week told LaRoche he wanted him to dial back the amount of time Drake LaRoche, 14, spent in the clubhouse. But Eaton also knew that LaRoche wanted to take some time before speaking on the issue.
Eaton said many Sox players backed the LaRoche family during a team meeting with Williams, and that's why they had a two-hour meeting rather than stretching as normal Tuesday.
"We wanted Drake in the clubhouse and we 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."
The Sox had their lone scheduled off day of spring training Thursday, so they had a day to regroup before dealing with the fallout again. LaRoche said earlier in the week he would give his side of the story at some point, but the club didn't expect LaRoche to speak on the issue Thursday.
Twitter reactions from around baseball showed Eaton wasn't alone in siding with LaRoche. Chipper Jones and Bryce Harper were among the big names to voice their support on social media.
Eaton said he was surprised that the argument reached the point of retirement, saying, "I don't think he was planning on retiring."
He also balked at the notion that a player might not want a kid in the clubhouse at all times during a tough season.
"No," Eaton said. "Again, he brings perspective. 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."
Williams painted the players' opposition to his stance as a positive.
"The way that they banded together to try to protect this young man, and their teammate and everything, I told them, it's admirable," Williams said. "I love the bond that's been created."
Sox manager Robin Ventura, who approved LaRoche's original arrangement, is now presented with the challenge of getting his team to move past an issue that has sparked national debate.
"It's always hard to take when a guy (retires), but a guy that has that much character and has the presence in the room like he has, it becomes difficult," Ventura said. "Teams take it different ways, but he was a respected guy in there, and they respected his decision."
So did several other high-profile figures on social media.
LaRoche's friend Willie Robertson, one of the starts of "Duck Dynasty," also offered his support. Robertson visited U.S. Cellular Field last August to participate in the White Sox's Faith Day.
