Reinsdorf: Nobody to 'directly blame' for LaRoche situation

After meeting with many of the players involved in the drama that engulfed the Chicago White Sox clubhouse this week - from Adam LaRoche to front-office executives to uniformed staff - team owner Jerry Reinsdorf opted not to point any fingers in a statement released Sunday.

"I continue to have complete faith in the skills and abilities of the leadership group of our baseball operations department in Ken Williams, Rick Hahn, and Robin Ventura," Reinsdorf said. "... As with many things in life, much of this was a result of miscommunication and misunderstanding rather than this being a case of anyone not telling the truth. I do not believe there is anyone to directly blame in this situation."

LaRoche's abrupt decision to retire Tuesday sparked a media frenzy at Camelback Ranch this week after the veteran DH accused executive VP Williams of banning his 14-year-old son, Drake, from the clubhouse. Williams refuted LaRoche's claims, telling reporters he only asked the 36-year-old to "dial back" the amount of time his son spends in the clubhouse. The story still precipitated an awkward rift between the players and the front office, though, with several players - including Chris Sale and Adam Eaton - vehemently defending LaRoche.

Sale, an All-Star in each of the past four seasons, also reportedly lit into Williams during a team meeting Wednesday. He told the executive to "get out and stay out of the clubhouse," and later accused Williams of spouting a "bald-faced lie" with respect to the club's rules on children in the clubhouse.

Though Sale was steadfast in his support of LaRoche, certain members of the team may not have been as enamored with Drake as the left-hander. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, multiple players and team officials complained to upper management about the amount of time the teenager was spending in the clubhouse, which was reported to be about 120 games in 2015, including almost every home game, half the road trips, team drills, and chartered flights.

With LaRoche officially retired now - after taking a few days to "think it over," he confirmed his decision Friday - Reinsdorf has instructed his employees not to address the issue publicly anymore.

"Per my request, White Sox employees will no longer discuss this matter publicly," he said. "I felt it was appropriate to release this statement to close the issue for everyone in the organization - from the front office to the players in the clubhouse - so we can focus on Opening Day and winning baseball games for our fans. I am fully confident this matter will soon be behind us and that we will grow even stronger and more united as a team and as an organization."