Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Ryne Sandberg did not have a great time last year. The Phillies finished with 73 wins, the same as the year before, but finished last in the division for the first time since 2000. On top of that, Sandberg supposedly had to deal with some bad clubhouse guys, a theory he now backs up:

“I didn’t think we had a good clubhouse last year. I don’t think it was conducive to winning. I don’t think it was about winning a baseball game that day, in some regards. I think there were some distractions there. So [we have to] be on top of that, have a better atmosphere.”

Sandberg was speaking at the Phillies’ 21st annual winter banquet in Lakewood when he said the above, according to Ryan Lawrence, and he “spent about 10 minutes trying to explain himself.”

We knew (were told) that Lee and Byrd weren’t clubhouse guys, while our eyes (and ears) told us Papelbon wasn’t. But it’s entirely possible that everyone in red pinstripes didn’t mesh enough for any of them to be considered a “clubhouse guy.” And that’s a bigger issue.

Sandberg credited some problems to a lack of leadership and young players not being able to be themselves, two problems which will definitely, positively, in no way be problems anymore as Jimmy Rollins was traded away and Ryan Howard continues to take playing time from younger players. Sandberg’s job hasn’t been easy so far, and with the long road the franchise is embarking on, he’s gotta wonder to himself if he’ll be here long enough to see it get that way.