Hahn: LaRoche retirement only a brief distraction

All of the Adam LaRoche-Drake LaRoche-Kenny Williams drama from spring training has faded from the national news, and from the White Sox's organization as well.

After being confronted by Williams in mid-March about son Drake's frequent presence in the clubhouse, Adam LaRoche retired while walking away from this season's $13 million salary.

In the aftermath of the bombshell development, Sox ace Chris Sale aired out Williams, saying: "We got (bald)-faced lied to. Kenny contradicted a few things he said. Somebody (LaRoche) walked out of those doors the other day, and it was the wrong guy. Plain and simple."

Not surprisingly, White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf issued a gag order after Sale's outburst, but general manager Rick Hahn indirectly addressed the issue before Friday's home opener against the Indians.

"Looking from my standpoint and in talking to the folks who were around most all spring, I don't feel like the feel or the vibe or the momentum in the clubhouse was any different on March 28 then it was on March 8," Hahn said. "It was a group that came together fairly early in camp. Whether the little sideways distraction that we encountered midway through camp served to further unify or further bond them, I mean that's a narrative that I suppose people will write one way or another depending on how the club does over the course of the year.

"It either pulled them together or tore them apart. In reality, I think the team, for the folks that were around day in and day out, we had a real good thing going early in camp. We got distracted briefly in the middle and by the end we were right back to where we were at the start of the camp, and that's with a focused, energized, professional bunch that had each other's back and was looking to win ballgames."

Put it on the board:

The White Sox officially unveiled their new 8,000-square foot video board in center field during Friday's home opener against the Indians.

"It's nice," manager Robin Ventura said. "It looks nice. I don't know if it will make us play any better, but I like it."

Well armed?

Austin Jackson made a weak throw home on Jason Kipnis' sacrifice fly in the second inning. After the game, manager Robin Ventura was asked about his new center fielder.

"There is not an issue with his throwing arm," Ventura said.

Opposing view:

Manager Terry Francona typically refrains from commenting on any Cleveland opponent, but he made an exception Friday when asked about the White Sox.

"I know the changes they did last year didn't necessarily translate into the win-loss column, and I was kind of surprised because I thought they had a great winter," Francona said. "And I thought they've done some more good things. I know they come in feeling good about themselves. Any time you add a guy like (Todd) Frazier, that's a premier player. That immediately helps.

"I wouldn't be surprised if they do better than they did last year because it just didn't seem like things went their way, maybe for a number of reasons."

Deep freeze:

With snow and a wind chill in the 20s, Friday's weather was far from ideal for the White Sox's first game at U.S. Cellular Field.

"It was cold, but you've got to expect that in the beginning of the year," third baseman Todd Frazier said. "When you're in the dugout, you can get warm and in front of the heater. That's an excuse. This team, we don't have any excuses. We just lost. That's basically it."