Ex-White Sox reliever Keynan Middleton rips club's 'no rules' culture

[Auggie]

NEW YORK -- The struggling Chicago White Sox, whose fall out of contention culminated with moving veteran players at the trade deadline, were plagued by a culture that had "no rules" in which a rookie regularly fell asleep in the bullpen, former White Sox relief pitcher Keynan Middleton said Sunday.

"We came in with no rules," Middleton said. "I don't know how you police the culture if there are no rules or guidelines to follow because everyone is doing their own thing. Like, how do you say anything about it because there are no rules?

"You have rookies sleeping in the bullpen during the game. You have guys missing meetings. You have guys missing PFPs (pitcher fielding practices), and there are no consequences for any of this stuff."

Multiple sources, who corroborated Middleton's account to ESPN, said a pitcher was seen napping during games as well as skipping fielding practice.

MORE: https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/38147621/ex-white-sox-reliever-keynan-middleton-rips-club-no-rules-culture

Said Middleton where the void exists with the White Sox (from the link): "Leadership in general. They say s--- rolls downhill. I feel like some guys don't want to speak up when they should have. It's hard to police people when there are no rules. If guys are doing things that you think are wrong, who is it wrong to? You or them? It's anyone's judgment at that point."

Now I'm thinking about Tim Anderson and the "chirping" and hard play he targeted at Guardians players that led to the brawl last Saturday. "Even the umpire told him to knock it (the chirping) off,' according to Cleveland manager Terry Francona.

Guess shit really does roll downhill.

[Diamond_Dog]

1. Anderson seems to be a hot head.

Remember last year when he flipped off the Cleveland dugout?

Granted there is bad blood between these two teams. I don’t condone violence and fighting but in this instance I’m glad José decked him.

[Auggie]

2. Yes ...

though I winced at the potential for injury when I saw the replay. And it will come with the cost of suspension. No Ramírez, no Naylor, no power. Maybe Emmanuel Clase too.

[Diamond_Dog]

3. Yep

And we play the Bluejays, the Reds, and the Rays coming up. There goes our season ….

[Auggie]

4. Well, football is starting ...

do you follow the Browns? I kind of (after the 49ers). IMO there are no excuses left for Kevin Stefanski, Andrew Berry (GM), and the Haslams ... aside from significant player injury.

Las Vegas predicts just 9 wins this season.

[Diamond_Dog]

5. I don't follow the Browns as closely as I follow the Guardians,

But you’d have to be living in a cave around here not to know about Watson, Stefanski, the Haslams …

The motto around here seems to be that Cleveland teams will always find a way to screw up. 9 wins, huh.

My son and his gf just came home from a 2 week trip to the Bay Area (a work/pleasure trip). Their first visit to California. They had a great time. They are more outdoorsy types and she also likes art museums.

[Auggie]

6. Glad to hear about their great time

Thanks for sharing!

[brush]

7. Down goes Anderson. Down goes Anderson.

He's been accused of hard tags at second and chirping. He's going to get someone hurt...or himself.

Good on Ramirez, who complained that someone could get hurt and be out of the game. He slid in head first...could've got an eye injury from a hard tag.

Anderson is going to have to watch himself as now he's known around the league for possibly hurting players. It's stupid. All these guys, even the lowest paid, make good money. And in Latin countries that goes even farther than here. Generational wealth he's endandering.