Chris Sale Blasts White Sox VP Kenny Williams: 'We Got Bald-Faced Lied To'
(CBS) White Sox ace Chris Sale continued in representing his team's displeasure in regards to the Adam LaRoche situation, lashing out at the executive vice president Kenny Williams on Friday.
Speaking to reporters from spring training in Glendale, Arizona, Sale said that Williams acted deceitfully in ruling earlier in the week that LaRoche's 14-year-old son, Drake, should have his clubhouse presence reduced. LaRoche, 36, announced his intention to retire suddenly Tuesday. In a contentious team meeting a day later, Sale reportedly voiced his displeasure toward Williams.
On Friday, he went on the record publicly. Sale indicated Williams told the coaches and players different stories about who was upset about Drake LaRoche's clubhouse presence, and he added players have heard "three different stories" about who originated the complaints -- be it players, coaches or ownership.
"We got bald-faced lied to,'' Sale said. "Kenny contradicted a few things he said.
"Somebody walked out of those doors the other day, and it was the wrong guy. Plain and simple."
Adam Eaton told CBSChicago.com that to the best of his knowledge, LaRoche had a clause in his contract that allowed Drake to have clubhouse rights, and other players indicated the same. LaRoche himself spent time in the clubhouse as a child with his father, Dave, a former MLB pitcher and coach.
Following his first season with the White Sox, LaRoche was asked to have Drake's time in the clubhouse cut back. His reaction spurred his sudden retirement and created discontent in the clubhouse. On Friday, Sale had the jerseys of LaRoche and Drake hanging from his locker stall.
"This isn't us rebelling against rules," Sale said. "This is us rebelling against BS.
"If we're truly here to win a championship and come together and play as a team and win as a team, these issues don't come up. It's just unfortunate."
Sale was upset an executive took a role in a clubhouse issue, believing any issue should've been manager Robin Ventura's matter to handle.
"I believe if a player had a problem with (Drake in the clubhouse), they would've come to Adam or at least to Robin," Sale said. "I think Robin was the right person to handle this, and he was handcuffed."
Williams issued a brief statement Friday in response to Sale's comments: "While I disagree with Chris' assertions today, I certainly have always appreciated his passion."
White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf also issued a statement.
"While we appreciate everyone's attention and interest, we continue to feel that it would be premature to comment at this time," Reinsdorf said. "This is an internal issue and we are in the process of holding a number of discussions with players, staff and the front office. As a result we don't 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."
