06/07 Phillies Offseason Thread

[PhillyPhreak54]

Wheeler's toupee is something else in that. Harry isnt old and senial. I miss those days.

Celebrating NL East Title

This one may be even better. Were talkin awkward interaction between Wheeler and Harry, Wheeler and Danny Jackson, Wheeler and everyone. Wheeler wearing a hat so nothing happens to his beloved hairpiece. An obviously smashed John Vukovich (light weight). Harry spazzing out in ceremounious call. And some more Wheeler. Oh, and the back of a young Neil Hartman.


This Scares Me

Video from last opening day at the Vet, picking up a show your tits chant. I was literally right there. I was like 16 or something. Not in this video, but I distinctly remember this part of the game. And one of the guy's I was with brought a video camera. Very strange. The game blew, Paul Byrd got bombed and we booed Rheal Cormier.

Wheels was helping Jackson get undressed and then stares at is chest. Homo.

[PhillyPhreak54]

By Jim Salisbury
The Philadelphia Inquirer

NEW YORK — Billy Wagner wears many different hats these days.
Closer on the National League team considered the favorite to make the World Series.
Newspaper columnist.
Phillies admirer.
"They were impressive," the New York Mets' closer said of his former mates' bid for the playoffs. "I think Pat Gillick set everybody up saying they weren't going to contend. Those guys accepted the challenge and made a serious run.
"I'm glad they didn't win (the wild card) because I know playing them in the second round would have been no fun. They're going to be a good team."
The Phillies entered the final seven games with a half-game lead in the wild-card race, only to cough it up by losing three of their next four. While the Phils flopped, the Los Angeles Dodgers showed how to do it, winning their final seven to claim the wild card.
On Wednesday, the Dodgers will be at Shea Stadium to open a division series against Wagner and the Mets.
Wagner, who pitched for the Phils in 2004 and 2005 and was lured to New York last winter by a four-year, $43 million contract, knows all about the Phillies' fatal final days.
"If the umpire doesn't screw up that home-run call, it's whole different atmosphere," he said.
In the second inning of a game at Washington eight days ago, Chase Utley hit a line drive off the right-field foul pole. Umpire Rob Drake ruled the would-be three-run homer a foul ball, and instead of taking a 5-1 lead, the Phillies trudged to a 4-3 loss and surrendered their share of the wild-card lead for good.
"It was crappy to see that happen," Wagner said. "How is the umpire not able to see that?"
Wagner spoke in front of his locker before a workout Tuesday morning. At the time, it was unclear if Charlie Manuel would be back as Phillies manager. Later, it became clear that Manuel would return.
Wagner shook his head when he heard Manuel had been under review.
"They've been wanting to get rid of him for so long," he said.
They?
"The fans," Wagner said. "There's no winning there. They had a tough manager in (Larry) Bowa. A great players' manager in Charlie. (Terry) Francona. They've had some great managers. What does it take to have somebody they accept? But that's the fans in Philadelphia."
Wagner concluded his commentary on the topic by saying, "I'm always going to defend Charlie for what he did for me. I'm probably biased."
Here's our commentary on the subject: Wagner is seldom consistent in his opinions. In 2005, he made it no secret that he thought the Phils were better off without Bowa. Also, Bowa is widely revered by fans of Philadelphia. And lastly, the fans weren't reviewing Manuel; his bosses were. But that's why we love Billy. He never lets facts get in the way of a good rant.
Wagner chose the Mets over the Phillies for two reasons: Money (the Phils guaranteed less than $30 million) and a chance to win. He believed the Mets had a better chance of getting to the postseason, and he was right. They ran away with the NL East, and he was a big contributor, converting 40 of 45 save chances, including 22 of 23 in the second half.
The big question now is: How far will the Mets make it in the postseason? Sure, they won 97 games and tied for the best record in the majors. But they have glaring holes in their starting pitching rotation. As if having Pedro Martinez unavailable for the postseason because of muscle tears in his calf and shoulder wasn't cause for enough gloom, the Mets will likely have to scratch Wednesday's scheduled starter, Orlando (El Duque) Hernandez. He injured his right calf on Tuesday.
General manager Omar Minaya made his club better by adding Wagner and a bunch of other stars in the last two winters. But his ears will ring with New York criticism if the Mets fail this month because he didn't get enough starting pitching.
More World Series games have been played in New York than in any other city. In New York, division titles are nice, but not all that memorable. So, as a team, the Mets probably need a strong showing in the playoffs to validate their season. Wagner, who has 324 career saves, also has something to prove in the playoffs. In five career postseason games, he is 1-0 with a 7.71 ERA.
"We all have something to prove," he said. "But going out there and trying too hard can hurt you.
"It's a new season now. Those 162 games we just played don't count for squat. This series is just one stop toward our ultimate goal. The difficulty is that the Dodgers want to win the World Series, too. We've got to prove them wrong."
As Wagner finished up a round of pre-series interviews on Tuesday, a reporter from the New York Post waited to collect the pitcher's thoughts for a daily column Wagner is "writing" for the tabloid.
The irony of Wagner turning columnist is delicious. Former teammate Pat Burrell once called Wagner "a rat" because he believed Wagner was too cozy with writers.

Wonder what Burrell would think now?
"(Expletive) him," Billy Wagner said.

Nice quote, Billy.

[MDS]

I agree. Billy is a complete icehole, but he is right there. farg Burrell.

[BigEd76]

They've had the liberty bell logo for that long? Damn, now I feel old.

1992 was the first year of it.  That was the year where Dykstra broke his wrist in the first AB of the season and the Phils ended in last place (again)

[rjs246]

Why in god's name is this thread 5 pages long already?

IT'S. FOOTBALL. SEASON.

[Sgt PSN]

Why in god's name is this thread 5 pages long already?

IT'S. FOOTBALL. SEASON.

He's right.  We should be talking about TO instead. 

BTW, I heard he tried to kill himself.  That's crazy. 

[MDS]

pHILLEIS WILL SING BARRY BONDS and curt schulling rofl its 1999 srteroids haha

[rjs246]

pHILLEIS WILL SING BARRY BONDS and curt schulling rofl its 1999 srteroids haha

I love singing Barry Bonds.

[MDS]

You also love singing show tunes, homo.

[rjs246]

Please explain to me what my love of showtunes has to do with anything. I just can't get enough of the homo!!!1

(No homo)

[BigEd76]

Ex-Phils news:

Padilla won't be re-signed by Texas
Bell won't be re-signed by Milwaukee

[MDS]

Sign them both. I'm from philliesphans.

[rjs246]

In other news the president met with the prime minister and my tiny little nipples went to france.

[Wingspan]

Ex-Phils news:

Padilla won't be re-signed by Texas

padilla wound up with a better record than anyone on the phils

2006 Phils + Padilla = Wild Card

[MDS]

Who was the worst team in baseball with runners in scoring position and 2 outs and also with the bases loaded? I'll give you a hint, they wear red and often choke.