Nov. 26--The lesson in the White Sox's signing of Adam LaRoche is simple:
Be nice to teenagers. Someday they just may return the favor.
White Sox manager Robin Ventura discovered that last week when LaRoche agreed to become his new designated hitter, more than two decades after hanging around Ventura at old Comiskey Park. His father, Dave, pitched in the big leagues for 14 seasons and was then the Sox bullpen coach.
The Nationals' slugger perfectly fit into the Sox's criteria for a middle-of-the-lineup, left-handed hitter, and agreed Friday to a two-year, $25 million deal. After the deal became official Tuesday, the 35-year-old LaRoche said talking to Ventura brought back some good memories from growing up at old Comiskey from 1989-90.
"Getting ready for a big league game, you have 10- and 11-year old punks hanging around, and he took the time to treat us the way he did and hang out with us ..." LaRoche said. "I always had respect for that."
Of course, Ventura was just coming up as a third baseman with the Sox at the time, so the notion he would wind up managing the teenage "punk" was too crazy to fathom.
"I don't think I would've put that analogy together back then," Ventura said. "Yeah, it was part that I had a lot of respect for his dad. His dad as a person was important even for me as a young player -- people who supported you.
"It has been well documented that I had a rough start, so guys like his dad were people you'd bounce ideas off and they give you confidence in different ways. And (now) you're able to do that with his kid. There was a lot of (input in LaRoche's decision), but I'm happy Adam did choose the White Sox, and if that had anything to do with it, great.
"The whole experience for Adam was the White Sox family who was there at the time, of how the whole White Sox treated him, not just me."
To make room for LaRoche on the 40-man roster, the Sox designated right-hander Scott Carroll for assignment.
Ventura said Jose Abreu would continue playing first regularly, with LaRoche perhaps giving Abreu a break a couple of games a week. While LaRoche is a quality fielder with a Gold Glove to his credit, the Sox don't want to move Abreu to DH in only the second year of his career.
Either way, the Sox believe LaRoche can give them the kind of offense they expected from Adam Dunn, without the strikeouts or the monstrous contract.
A two-year commitment seemed about right for a 35-year old, though it's still a stop-gap measure for a team that obviously had no one available in the system to fill the void. Andy Wilkins hit 30 home runs at Triple-A Charlotte last year, but batted .140 with no homers in 43 at-bats during his September call-up.
This is not a rebuild like the one going on at Wrigley Field. The Sox believe they can contend in 2015 by filling in holes with veterans like LaRoche and reliever Zach Duke.
"That's the whole idea," Ventura said. "You're trying to look at what happened last year and make improvements, and getting Adam was something we knew we needed -- a left-handed hitter in the middle of our lineup somewhere, and being a professional hitter. You don't want four fingers going on around Jose every time he comes up.
"To be able to have someone in there is important. (General manager Rick Hahn) did a great job of identifying Adam and being able to sign him."
LaRoche will also be a go-to guy for the media in the clubhouse, replacing the retired Paul Konerko. Perhaps one of the best qualities LaRoche has going for him is his honesty. After talking up Ventura and the White Sox's game plan, he added: "I'd be lying if I said the money had nothing to do with it."
It always does, though few players care to admit it.
psullivan@tribpub.com
Twitter @PWSullivan
