Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times has spent a considerable amount of time rehashing the failures of Chicago White Sox in 2011 since the team cut ties with Ozzie Guillen, and now he has turned his attention to former hitting coach Greg Walker for more confirmation that the season was in shambles before it even started. Ex-post facto declarations that 2011 was a poor season aren't exactly profound, but with Walker moving on to a job with the Atlanta Braves, he did have some bits to add about the discord from last year:
‘‘You can dissect it any way you want, blame it on whoever you want, but it was not a positive situation for anyone involved,'' Walker said. ‘‘We talked about it. There was a feeling in the clubhouse and the coaches' office that we should have never been back for 2011. After 2010, it was obvious that the first sign of adversity was going to make things bad."
‘‘When it gets off track like it did and you have more going on than the normal team, it's too hard to overcome. The atmosphere the past few years reached the point where winning baseball could no longer be played, no matter which players were brought in.''
‘‘Most of the problems that went on last year weren't baseball-related, and it was tough on the players. We hit that first roadblock, and everyone suffered. We all should have seen
it coming.''
quotes via Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.
During the offseason GM Kenny Williams retooled the roster for a rebuild, but many of the veterans who struggled last season are still around. Adam Dunn and Alex Rios still have huge contract figures even if they have dampened expectations hanging over their head, while young prospect Gordon Beckham might making his last push to turn the corner and fulfill the potential he flashed bank in 2009.
Stay tuned to SB Nation Chicago for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the Chicago White Sox be sure to visit South Side Sox. Check out MLB Daily Dish for off-season rumors and reports.