When Nick Swisher was traded to the Yankees, he posted the following message on his official website: I can't thank the Chicago White Sox enough for their warm welcome from day one. I have the greatest respect for the entire organization and the passionate fans were the best!In an interview with the Chicago Tribune over the weekend, Ozzie Guillen gave Swisher a far less glowing send-off:
Was Swisher a bad influence in the clubhouse late in the year?Of course, take Ozzie's criticism with a grain of salt -- this is the same guy who took offense at Orlando Cabrera when Cabrera dared suggest his teammates quit goofing off and spend more time trying to win. Guillen likes to keep the mood light in his clubhouse, and it's possible Swisher's "bad attitude" was merely taking his second-half slump (he hit .191 after the break and just .161 for the month of September) too seriously.
You've got to ask the players about that. To be honest with you, I was not happy with the way he was reacting at the end of the season. He wasn't helping me either.
Of course, we don't know for sure exactly what he meant -- Guillen carelessly tossed out that comment without any explanation. It shouldn't be too much of a surprise: Guillen's never been accused of eloquence or class.
