Phillies Offseason Talk

[Rome]

Wah!  Why didn't "we"    sign Wagner for 4/43??  Wah!   


Guys... you're forgetting one small detail:  He never intended to re-sign with the Phillies!

If he had any intention of re-signing in Philly, he would have done so in the summer instead of jerking them off repeatedly.

Jesus...   

[bobbyinlondon]

Wah!  Why didn't "we"    sign Wagner for 4/43??  Wah!   


Guys... you're forgetting one small detail:  He never intended to re-sign with the Phillies!

If he had any intention of re-signing in Philly, he would have done so in the summer instead of jerking them off repeatedly.

Jesus...   

Exactly.

June: "I don't want to talk about my contract--it'll be a distraction to the team".

July: "Well, I hope they make me an offer soon."

August: The Phils offered him a 2 year deal, with a 3rd year option at 24M--HE WANTS 3 YEARS GUARANTEED AND A FULL NTC.

Sept: The Phils finally offer him a 3 year deal, but now instead of 24M, he wants 27M.

Oct: The Phils offer him what he wants, except now his price is at 30M.

Gillick is hired, then goes to meet Wagner fact to face. Wagner then tells the press, "I'm excited with the plans they have for the team."

When he signs for the Mets, then he comes out with: "They're not interested in winning, just competing." or, "The NTC is the thing that swung this in the Mets' favor." or "This was the Mets' deal to lose".

I have no problem with a player going for money. But, you should have enough guts to say, "I'm going to the team that offers me the most." End of story. And to tell the press that you're excited about the Phillies' plans, especially since you indicated that you're meeting with Gillick was very positive, and then turn around and trash him when you sign with a new team--well, I just think that's classless--as is telling the press money isn't going to be the thing that swings the deal--it's more about living where you're comfortable--and then going for the money anyway.

That's like Reggie White saying he wanted to play for a contender, then turning down deals from two teams that won the next two SBs to sign with a GB team that wasn't even a contender yet, because they made you the highest paid defensive player in the league. If you're going for the money--SAY IT!

[SD_Eagle5]

next year towards a catcher and third basemen. more starting pitching.

We'll have free'd up plenty of money when rid ourselves of Lieby and Bells deal.

Wah!  Why didn't "we"    sign Wagner for 4/43??  Wah!   


Guys... you're forgetting one small detail:  He never intended to re-sign with the Phillies!

How do you know he never intended to re-sign with the Phils? He played the game, who cares how he went about it? Was our reported deal anywhere even close to the one the Mets gave him? Nope.

If he had any intention of re-signing in Philly, he would have done so in the summer instead of jerking them off repeatedly.

Jesus...   

What? Oooooh, you mean when they were insulting him with their 3 year $24 million deal or whatever it was? [4 years $43 million hindsight later] Yeah he was real stupid to stand his ground and test free agency 

With the current market for relief pitchers a guy as dominant as him got fair value. Bottom line is: We're now worse than we were last season.

I have no problem with a player going for money. But, you should have enough guts to say, "I'm going to the team that offers me the most." End of story. And to tell the press that you're excited about the Phillies' plans, especially since you indicated that you're meeting with Gillick was very positive, and then turn around and trash him when you sign with a new team--well, I just think that's classless--as is telling the press money isn't going to be the thing that swings the deal--it's more about living where you're comfortable--and then going for the money anyway.

That's like Reggie White saying he wanted to play for a contender, then turning down deals from two teams that won the next two SBs to sign with a GB team that wasn't even a contender yet, because they made you the highest paid defensive player in the league. If you're going for the money--SAY IT!

Wagner played the game -  sorry if you don't like the way he played it - but guess what? He got a fair deal. Regardless of if his intentions were to sell to the highest bidder or go to a team where he thought he had the best chance of winning the World Series, he did what he had to to get the type of deal he wanted. The way professional sports works, would it have made good business sense for Billy Wags to come right out and say: "I could care less about winning or losing, show me the money"? Probably not.

[hunt]

the sils are back to being cheap...they spent some $$$ for a couple years to drive up interest because of the new ballpark but now they're back to their old tricks.
they lost their top 2 marquee players & replaced them with less talented (and cheaper) players.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Thome is not more talented than Ryan Howard.  More proven?  Yes.  More talented or likely to be more productive? No.

As for Wagner, he's a 34-year-old power pitcher.  As soon as he loses 3 or 4 MPH on his fastball, he's through.


I wanted Wagner back, but not for $43 million.

[SD_Eagle5]

the sils are back to being cheap...they spent some $$$ for a couple years to drive up interest because of the new ballpark but now they're back to their old tricks.
they lost their top 2 marquee players & replaced them with less talented (and cheaper) players.

I'm fine with the Thome trade, in fact, I thought Gillick made a great deal getting a solid CF, 2 prospects, and cut more cash than I thought he would.

But for the most part you're right. I can't see how our fans aren't a little more upset that Wagner got a fair deal and we replaced him with Gordon.

[BigEd76]

$11M for a closer is crazy....especially one that's in his mid-30s, had groin and shoulder problems recently and has nothing else except "here...I'm going to throw it really hard.  Try to hit it."  I'm not excited about having Gordon, but he makes less than half (almost 1/3 depending on incentives) of Wagner's deal and gives the team flexibility to do other things....unlike a certain basketball team in this town that is stuck

[MURP]

i hate the Phillies front office and have no problem with the Thome trade or not re-signing Wagner.  Now they still need to get rid of Lieberdouche  and Bell and trade Burrell. 

[BigEd76]

Bell switched to #25 

Nunez gets #3
Fasano takes Wagner's #13
Santana gets #48
Ruiz switched to #51
Bourn gets #76
Hernandez gets #77
Mathieson gets #78
Haigwood gets #79

[MDS]

bell=thome

[BigEd76]

Gordon will wear #45 in honor of Tug McGraw. 

"This is truly an honor for me to wear his number on the field and to be in the bullpen with this team in this organization," Gordon said. "I've never met Tug McGraw. I just always have one story that my dad said to me once. This is years ago. I couldn't have been 9 or 10 years old. He said, 'Son, that's Tug McGraw pitching.' I was like, 'Dad, his name is Tug?' I thought that was kind of funny that his name was Tug.

"I guess it is funny because my name is Flash now. ... Just getting an opportunity to wear his jersey and his number where he really stood out as a pitcher and a reliever, it's an honor."

Ah damn, we can't hate the guy now... 

[SD_Eagle5]

Any talk of having the Tuggers # retired?

[MDS]

no, phils only do it for hall of fame type players

[SD_Eagle5]

no, phils only do it for hall of fame type players

I think they'd make an exception for Tug, he was a local celebrity forever and footage of him getting the last out in the WS is the highlight of the franchise.

[MDS]

so should the eagles do it for chad lewis and his tds in the nfccg?