The Phillies Are Clueless!

[jayc948]

Burrell and Lofton both had successful surgeries and will most likely be ready for the start of Spring Training. I doubt Lofton will still be with the team however. As far as the GM situation goes, there is no evidence that Gerry Hunsicker has even been contacted as of yet. The Phillies interviewed Assistant GM Mike Arbuckle for the job today. Amaro Jr. is still handling contract talks with Wagner and his agent. I get the feeling that Abreu will be dealt or attempted to be dealt during the offseason. I'm sure the Cardinals will make a few offers for him to replace Larry Walker. The Phils will most likely look to receive at least a pitcher and a prospect in return as Wolf will be missing at least half the year recovering from Tommy John surgery.

If Abreu is indeed dealt, the Phillies will probably move Howard to the outfield. I'm sure the Phillies rotation will not be too thrilled with the possibility of a Burrell-Michaels/Victorino-Howard outfield defensively. Wagner and 6 other Phillies (Adams, Tucker, Lofton, Pratt, Urbina, Martinez) filed for free agency earlier today. I personally would just let Wagner go as I wouldn't feel comfortable in having 9+ players on the roster with no-trade clauses in their contracts...

[Flyers2001]

Howard can not play the outfield. They said they tried that last year and it was huge mistake. Then again, it can not be much worse then Abreau in the field. they need to eat thome's contract and Leave Howard there.

[jayc948]

Originally Posted by Flyers2001

Howard can not play the outfield. They said they tried that last year and it was huge mistake. Then again, it can not be much worse then Abreau in the field. they need to eat thome's contract and Leave Howard there.

Are you suggesting that they pay Thome millions to come off the bench? If Thome fully recovers I expect a decent year from him this season...

[jayc948]

PHILADELPHIA -- Though he didn't list specifics, Phillies team president David Montgomery confirmed on Friday that he intends to move the fences back at Citizens Bank Park.

At least in left-center field.

In addition to finding a general manager to replace Ed Wade and pushing to re-sign Billy Wagner, this could rank a solid third on the Phillies' extensive list of offseason discussion agenda items. It has been widely speculated over the past few days, and an official announcement should come sometime next week.

"We have indeed decided that there's some action that can make the park play better," Montgomery said. "It's adjusting fences. We hope to end up with a fair ballpark."

Montgomery said he wanted to take a second year to see how the ballpark played before making a final determination, so here are some numbers: Citizens Bank Park surrendered 201 homers in 2005, the fifth-most in the Majors, and it was down 17 from 2004, when the park allowed the third-most.

According to ESPN, Citizens Bank Park had a "park factor" of 1.289. The stat compares the rate of stats at home vs. the rate of stats on the road, and a rate higher than 1.000 favors the hitter.

Philadelphia's 1.289 ranked them sixth in the Majors. The Phillies' home turf has been one of the friendliest places for hitters since opening in 2004. The club has weathered criticism from pitchers around the league, including their own.

Atlanta's John Smoltz has been one of the more vocal critics, and suggested that free-agent pitchers wouldn't want to come to the Phillies because of the dimensions of their home park. Things are particularly tight in the power alleys, which are about 350 feet from home plate.

The change will mostly affect left-center field. Of the 201 homers hit in 2005, 109 were hit to left, 14 to center and 78 to right.

"We think there are ways to improve," Montgomery said. "It's not targeted for a specific player or the overall feeling that it will make us more or less attractive [for free-agent pitchers]. It might make us less attractive to right-handed hitters.

"We feel there are some things we can do on the left-field side that will help. We haven't made specific decisions, but hope to before we open next season."

[Flyers2001]

Originally Posted by jayc948

Are you suggesting that they pay Thome millions to come off the bench? If Thome fully recovers I expect a decent year from him this season...

I expect them to eat half of his over paid contract and get rid of him.. bite the bullet because Howard is the real deal.

[jayc948]

Originally Posted by Flyers2001

I expect them to eat half of his over paid contract and get rid of him.. bite the bullet because Howard is the real deal.

He has a no trade clause so it's going to be pretty difficult...

[jayc948]

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The losingest franchise in pro sports will have a proven winner in charge.

Pat Gillick will become the Philadelphia Phillies' new general manager, replacing Ed Wade, fired after failing to get the team into the playoffs during eight years on the job. Gillick's impressive resume includes two World Series championships and nine playoff appearances.

Gillick was to be introduced at a noon news conference, the team said in a statement Wednesday morning.

The Phillies have lost more games (8,831) than any U.S. pro team and haven't been to the playoffs since 1993, when they lost the World Series to Gillick's Toronto Blue Jays.

Ready to take charge of his fourth major league team, the 68-year-old Gillick was chosen over former Houston Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker, Phillies assistant general managers Ruben Amaro Jr. and Mike Arbuckle, and Cleveland Indians assistant general manager Chris Antonetti.

A special consultant in the Mariners' front office the past two seasons, Gillick led Toronto to consecutive championships in 1992-93. He also was general manager with Baltimore and Seattle.

Philadelphia went 88-74 this season and finished one game behind NL wild-card winner Houston. It was the Phillies' third consecutive winning season and fourth in five years, but they missed the playoffs for the 12th straight year and 21st time in 22 seasons.

Long considered one of the best executives in baseball, Gillick helped his teams compile a record of 2,010-1,773 in his 24 seasons as a general manager.

Gillick won five AL East titles in Toronto and led the Orioles to the AL championship series in 1996 and '97. He also took the Mariners to the ALCS in 2000 and 2001. Seattle tied a major league record with 116 wins in 2001, and the Mariners' 393 victories during Gillick's four seasons were the most in baseball.

"Pat has accomplished a great deal in three situations,'' Phillies president David Montgomery said after he interviewed Gillick last Friday.

Montgomery fired Wade one week after the season ended under heavy pressure from a fan base that soured on the Phillies in just their second season at Citizens Bank Park.

Wade was heavily criticized in Philadelphia, especially after he fired manager Larry Bowa and hired Charlie Manuel. Even though the Phillies were in the playoff race the entire season, attendance dropped off by almost 600,000, down from 3.25 million in 2004.

Once given the flexibility to increase payroll, Wade brought in Jim Thome, Kevin Millwood, Billy Wagner and Jon Lieber. Millwood was a bust in two seasons, Wagner is a free agent and Thome is on the trading block. However, young stars Chase Utley and Ryan Howard emerged under Wade's watch.

Gillick started his front-office career in 1963 with the Astros, spending 10 years there. He joined the New York Yankees in 1974 as coordinator of player development.

In 1976, he joined the expansion Blue Jays, handling all baseball-related activities. He went to Baltimore in 1996 and took over in Seattle in 2000.

Gillick has a difficult task in Philadelphia, even though the Phillies came close to reaching the playoffs. The team has nearly $78 million committed to 11 players for next year, and Montgomery already said the payroll will stay around $95 million.

A tough decision must be made at first base involving Thome and Howard. Thome is owed at least $43.5 million over the next three seasons and the Phillies probably will have to pay some of his salary to make a trade. If Wagner doesn't return, the Phillies will have to replace the All-Star closer.

Gillick comes to the Phillies in time to attend the annual general managers' meetings, scheduled for Indian Wells, Calif., from Nov. 7-11.

[fridge29]

The Gold Glove Award no longer has any meeting!!!! Bobby Abreu???????????????
WOW!

[Flyers2001]

Gillick is a good choice. Can't knock them on that. Everywhere this guy has gone he has created winners. 9 playoff appearances, two world series. I can not complain about this choice.

Another thing, most baseball players who see themselves in this situation would wave their no trade clause. Thome is not the number one guy. Howard put up better numbers and is much younger. If Thome had any respect for himself he would know this as well, move on and be a starter somewhere else. He has to know he is stealing money right now, but all the power to him.

[The Reaper]

He wasn't my #1 choice, but I'm still cautiously pleased. I'll give him a chance before I roast this decision like most are doing.

BTW, Abreu winning the golden glove is.. hell, there's no words to describe it.

[fridge29]

I just dont get this organization!! Just in case the fans don't hate you enough, they mess with the only person we truly love, Harry Kalas!!!! They break him up from Larry anderson, take L.A. completely off the TV broadcasts, and force Harry to work the 1st 3 innings and last 3 innings with Chris Wheeler. So now we get Wheels the entire game!!??
Why mess with an icon? The voice? Don't they have a clue????

[Gygax]

Fridge - I agree that this would suck if that is the case. Could it be that Harry asked for a reduction in workload? I'm just wondering as it would be the only logical reason why the Phils would do that.

When I was in school down in Delaware, Kalas' voice was classic broadcaster. You could hear the emotion in it and the unabashed homer, something that all local broadcasters should be somewhat.

[fridge29]

It is the case. Harry wasnt asking for a reduction in work, plus he enjoys working with L.A. the most. Harry is up for a new contract and it looks like the Phils are going to go cheap and have this kid from the Rangers waiting in the wings. This is an absolute disgrace!!!!

[cottonzway]

Not to mention him and Wheels hate each other. I don't get this at all.

[bigjack]

Not a Phillies fan but Harry is great and a legend. I used to like his byplay with Richie Ashburn years ago. Great pipes and evidently a great human being. What ever happened to his son Todd? I remember him a little with the Mets and then he was gone.