White Sox slugger LaRoche on days off: 'My pride has been injured a little bit'

Adam LaRoche needs some time to regroup, and that's exactly what he's getting.

The struggling Chicago White Sox slugger has watched his average dip over 20 points since the beginning of July. Manager Robin Ventura left him out of the lineup Monday. He won't play Tuesday either, as Ventura told CSN Chicago's Dan Hayes he hopes the time off allows LaRoche to "work out some things" in his approach.

LaRoche agrees with the decision, but doesn't necessarily like it.

"I'm healing. My pride has been injured a bit," LaRoche told reporters.

"I didn't know I was off yesterday until I showed up," he added. "I told Robin, 'I don't want it. But I know I need it.'"

LaRoche, 35, was one of the White Sox's big-ticket acquisitions in the offseason. He signed a two-year, $25-million contract after hammering home 92 RBIs last season for the Washington Nationals.

The slugger hasn't been able to find his powerful touch in his transition to the American League. He's posted a .212/.306/.347 batting line with limited production, swatting 9 home runs while adding 34 RBIs in 356 plate appearances.