Adam Eaton on Laroches, “we lost a leader in Drake”
Adam Eaton spoke with CBS’ Bruce Levine and Mark Grote on “Inside the Clubhouse” Saturday morning in regards to the Adam and Drake Laroche debate. The full interview can be heard here:
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2016/03/19/adam-eaton-defends-drake-laroche-vows-white-sox-will-move-forward/#
During the interview Eaton expressed just how much both Laroches meant to the 2015 Chicago White Sox, and how they both helped him when he struggled.
“Drake was more than just a kid that came to the clubhouse,” Eaton said. “He did more for people than we did for him by having him there every day. It’s a difficult dynamic to understand, and that’s why there’s such a strong outreach for us.
“We lost a leader in Drake, which is crazy enough that a 14-year-old could be looked at like that, but the kid was so tremendous.”
JUST… WHAT!?
A 14 year old was a leader? Maybe that’s why the 2015 Chicago White Sox, with large expectations, finished 76-86, while scoring a league low 622 runs. But the leadership didn’t start or end with just Drake, the senior Laroche helped Adam out as well, especially during an early season slump.
“I don’t know who to turn to, who to talk to,” Eaton said. “I don’t know which way is up, which way is down, I just know I’m getting thrown in the fire for another 0-for. I don’t know where to go … I went to that man, and that man called me down. He said, ‘You know what? Here’s how we handle this, here’s how we get through it.’ He did this on more than one occasion with more than one person.
“That’s the person we needed in the clubhouse this year.”
If you’re in the middle of several 0 fers, of course the best person to turn to is Mr. .200 (ba) himself, Adam Laroche. OK, in actuality that’s not a bad idea, he’s experienced a lot in this game and dealing with slumps are certainly something he’s had to work through.
Perhaps this is why both Adam, as well as Sox pitcher Chris Sale have taken such a strong stance on the Laroche issue. Perhaps this is why Sale tossed Kenny Williams out of the clubhouse. Maybe, just maybe the team uses this as a rallying cry to bond and it leads to a ton of success in 2016?
Or maybe the White Sox season has crashed and burned before it all started.
