Phillies offseason cont...

[BigEd76]

Surhoff was the #1 pick in the draft 21 years ago, ahead of Will Clark, Barry Larkin, Barry Bonds, Pete Incaviglia, Walt Weiss, Tommy Greene, Brian McRae, Gregg Jefferies and Rafael Palmeiro... 

[SD_Eagle5]

I wonder if Glenn Wilson is available.

Glenbo

I remember when we traded him to the Mariners for Phil Bradley and Mike Jackson. Those were the days.

[Geowhizzer]

I wonder if Glenn Wilson is available.

Glenbo

I remember when we traded him to the Mariners for Phil Bradley and Mike Jackson. Those were the days.

Actually, the Phils traded Wilson AND Jackson for Phil Bradley.   

[SD_Eagle5]

I wonder if Glenn Wilson is available.

Glenbo

I remember when we traded him to the Mariners for Phil Bradley and Mike Jackson. Those were the days.

Actually, the Phils traded Wilson AND Jackson for Phil Bradley.   

That's right.

[PhillyPhreak54]

I remember those scrubs. Bradley sucked and then went to Baltimore, I think.

Those were the days when Ken Howell was the #1 starter and Floyd Youmans and Alex Madrid rounded out the rotation. Oh, and we had Bob Sebra too.

Good days, those late 80's early 90's.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Pretty good Gillick article

Gillick has learned this much in three months on the job: Philadelphia fans are dying for a championship. And there are a lot of traffic lights on Broad Street.

"You have to be careful," he said. "You could be thinking about a trade and get knocked over by a truck."

Despite lying relatively low the past couple of seasons, Gillick remained a hot commodity. The Los Angeles Dodgers made a run at him a couple winters ago, and again this fall. So did the Phillies. Club president Dave Montgomery, a thorough and methodical practitioner of due diligence, had talked to a zillion people and done a million miles of background work in looking for his new GM.

He kept hearing one name: Gillick.

One day this fall, Doris and Pat Gillick were riding in their car. Pat's cell phone rang. It was a representative from another club, presumably the Dodgers.

"No, I'm going to the Phillies," Pat told the caller.

Why Philadelphia?

"I think Pat was really excited they wanted him so much," Doris said.

People who know Gillick talk about his honesty, sensitivity and compassion. You've probably heard the story about him holding up traffic one day in Florida to rescue a turtle from the middle of the road. But did you hear about the fan who used to hang around the games in Baltimore? The man was mentally challenged and needed a ride home. So Gillick gave him one - again and again and again. "You shouldn't go into that neighborhood," people told Gillick. He kept on going.

OK, Philadelphia. This is the man who's running your baseball team. He laughs. He cries. He walks to work and rides the subway.

He's met many of you this winter. He knows how badly you want a champion, and he'll do everything he can to make it happen.

He's won before and wants to win again.

"He wants it for Philadelphia, he wants it for himself, and he wants it for the Phillies because they've showed him so much trust," Doris Gillick said of her husband. "He'll work his heinie off to make it happen."

I'm liking this guy more and more. If Ed Wade didn't leave such a mess it would be easier to get things done. But Gillick has to be patient and undo some of that fargers mistakes first.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Gillick Q & A with Randy Miller

Q: You've been working on a very tight budget, even though the Phillies have a high payroll and most of Thome's big contract is off the books. Did you realize you'd have so few dollars to spend this year?

A: I felt coming in that this year would be a challenge. I had my eyes open. I thought maybe some of those second-tier pitchers might be in a category where we could go after them. But I don't believe in paying big dollars for second-tier guys, because two or three years down the line you'd wonder what you did.

Q: Randy Wolf ($9 million), Mike Lieberthal ($7.5 million), David Bell ($4.5 million), Cory Lidle ($3.3 million) are heading into the final year of their contracts. Are you already thinking about that $25 million you'll probably be able to spend next winter?

A: Let me put it this way: Right now we're thinking about 2006, but naturally you look down the line and see where we're going to be in 2007 and 2008.

Q: But Lieberthal and Bell still are here this year and you recently said the Phillies aren't a championship-caliber team right now. Are you worried that 2006 could be a long year?

A: I don't think so. I like the fact that a lot of our players are in the last year of contracts. If you want to get another contract, you have to perform. If Bell, Lieberthal and those types on one-year deals want to continue on, whatever they've got you're going to see it this year.

Q: What has to happen for the Phillies to reach the playoffs this year? How realistic is it?

A: Basically, a lot hinges on the our pitching. Maybe we don't have a No. 1 guy right now, but do have some guys who fit in the No. 2 category — Brett Myers, Jon Lieber. Our pitching has to come through. We're going to score runs. I think the one thing that people think is a minor thing but something I really stress is playing the game right fundamentally. If you do that, you'll win another five to eight games. I'm challenging our coaching staff to make us the best fundamental team in our division.

[MDS]

He continues to impress in everything but getting an ace........yet.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Are they going to play team baseball?

[SD_Eagle5]

Are they going to play team baseball?

Only after the star player gets injured. I don't think we've identified one yet, though.

[Geowhizzer]

I like what I saw out of Brett Myers last season.  If we had a Roger Clemens-type that could show him how to prepare, how to train, and he could be an ace-type himself.

We'll see what Dubee-dubee-do can do to keep Myers on the upswing.  He seemed to turn a corner, and hopefully he can keep it going.

[Sgt PSN]

Are they going to play team baseball?

Only after the star player gets injured. I don't think we've identified one yet, though.

It's the guy who takes the most swings without making contact.  His name is David Bell. 

[PhillyPhreak54]

Pitchers and catchers tomorrow!

My boy Brett Myers is pissed that Gillick said they werent good enough. Good for him. Maybe that'll help light a fire under some of these guys asses.

Myers = 17 wins and a below 3 ERA this year.

[Rome]

The Phillies are going to lose 90 games this year.

Their pitching is atrocious, they have no one of substance coming off the bench and their manager is a farging retard.

How many days 'til the Eagles training camp opens?

[SunMo]

Pitchers and catchers tomorrow!

My boy Brett Myers is pissed that Gillick said they werent good enough. Good for him. Maybe that'll help light a fire under some of these guys asses.

Myers = 17 wins and a below 3 ERA this year.

why is Brett Myers your boy?  he's a punk.

i'm just glad that there is an honest General Manager in town.