Phillies Offseason Talk

[PhillyPhreak54]

Yep...I like Lieber, but he's a #2. But he's clutch, which is good.

1. what we need
2. Lieber
3. Myers
4. Wolf (when healthy)
5. Lidle

And if they do get that #1 then they can either experiment with Padilla as a reliever again or trade him and Gavin Floyd for a 3B or C.

[SunMo]

http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/index.ssf?/base/sports/1129282654204760.xml&coll=2


http://www.newsday.com/sports/printedition/ny-spyanks144468936oct14,0,1115397.story?coll=ny-sports-print

[PhillyGirl]

Hunsicker may have other offers
By: RANDY MILLER (Fri, Oct/14/2005)

Gerry Hunsicker spent his Thursday afternoon on the links. Golf has a way of making one forget more important matters of the mind.

In the coming days, the highly respected former Houston Astros general manager could have one whale of a decision to make.

It's believed following Ed Wade as Phillies GM would be a dream job for Hunsicker, but the interviewing process isn't expected to begin until next week - around the same time he'll be in St. Petersburg, Fla., selling himself to the Tampa Bay Devils Rays.

Even the Devil Rays aren't sure yet whether Hunsicker will interview next Tuesday for their open GM job or a senior front office position that would make him a mentor to Andrew Friedman, a 28-year-old Rays baseball operations chief who has no baseball background but is close to new owner Stuart Sternberg.

What does Hunsicker do if the Devil Rays offer the GM job next week?

For now, he doesn't have to make that decision.

On Thursday, Hunsicker again politely refused comment, possibly because he doesn't want to say anything that will hurt his chances to land the Phillies' job.

According to team sources, Phillies president David Montgomery still is sorting through candidates with a small brass group that is headed by special GM assistant John Vukovich.

Montgomery and Vukovich are believed to have met on Thursday to discuss filling a position that became vacant when Wade was fired last Monday.

Montgomery received a strong vote of confidence for Hunsicker while having contract negotiations Wednesday in Richmond, Va., with All-Star closer Billy Wagner.

Wagner repeatedly endorsed Hunsicker, his GM in Houston from 1996-2003.

"I think Gerry is very good," Wagner said. "He's approachable, and I think he'll do what it takes. I think if you don't tie his hands , he'll put a playoff team out there in Philly. I hope he gets the job."

Montgomery isn't providing clues, but it's believed he's desperate to find a big name with a strong track record.

Besides Hunsicker, Yankees general manager Brian Cashman and possibly former Mets GM Jim Duquette could be good fits.

Cashman, however, has yet to prove he can win with a budget, and he has no background in farm systems like Hunsicker. Duquette has some success in New York, but nowhere near that of Hunsicker, who led Houston to five playoff appearances in nine seasons.

Another name that has surfaced is former Boston GM Dan Duquette, Jim's cousin. A published report mentioned Dan Duquette recently having lunch with fellow Amherst alum and Phillies minority owner John Middleton.

It's believed that Dan Duquette asked to be considered for GM when and if Wade was canned, but a team source says that's very unlikely. However, it is possible that he could join the Phillies in a significant capacity down the road.

Wags might hate us fans, but I luv me sum him.

[Rome]

Sounds like he'll fit right in.

[Wingspan]

yeah..i just loooved when wagner went and cried about the fans on television and then immediately followed up with 2 9th inning collapses vs the astros. yay!

[PhillyPhreak54]

I'll never understand that when a players gives the fans a shot back some people are incredulous that an athlete will talk back. It's like an "oh, how dare he say that about us" attitude that I find interesting.

I don't deny that some players deserved the boos. But when a guy speaks his mind about it he's ripped for speaking his mind.

What about the incident where Utley went after a fan in the front row behind the dugout because the fan was riding Bobby Abreu all game and being totally ridiculous? I like that. And especially coming from Utley, the golden boy here.

Like Wags, Utley was sticking up for his teammate(s).

[Rome]

Utley is one of us, Phreak.

Wagner's one of them.

Simple as that.

[PhillyPhreak54]

I'm confused. Who's them?

[ice grillin you]

I'm confused. Who's them?

those guys with the funny hats in the 'loyal order of the buffalos'

[Wingspan]

I'll never understand that when a players gives the fans a shot back some people are incredulous that an athlete will talk back. It's like an "oh, how dare he say that about us" attitude that I find interesting.

I don't deny that some players deserved the boos. But when a guy speaks his mind about it he's ripped for speaking his mind.

What about the incident where Utley went after a fan in the front row behind the dugout because the fan was riding Bobby Abreu all game and being totally ridiculous? I like that. And especially coming from Utley, the golden boy here.

Like Wags, Utley was sticking up for his teammate(s).

hey now, i agreed with what wagner said. but it isnt gonna stop me from booing. but it would have helped wagners case had he backed up his own words.

[Rome]

What I meant was, Utley is a scrapper, he's a home-grown product, he's blue collar down to the three day scruff on his face.  He's Philly and when he talks shtein to the fans as he did, it's like a member of your own family getting on your ass over something.

Conversely, Wagner is a mercenary who was brought in from Houston talking shtein for big bucks.  He's never taken to Philly or its fans, IMO, and I'm frankly shocked that he'd even consider re-signing with the Phillies.

That's just my impression from watching him play and listening to the asinine comments he's made over the past two years concerning the fans, the ballpark and the city in general.

[SunMo]

when did Utely talk shtein, i don't remember that.

[MDS]

What I meant was, Utley is a scrapper, he's a home-grown product, he's blue collar down to the three day scruff on his face.  He's Philly and when he talks shtein to the fans as he did, it's like a member of your own family getting on your ass over something.

Conversely, Wagner is a mercenary who was brought in from Houston talking shtein for big bucks.  He's never taken to Philly or its fans, IMO, and I'm frankly shocked that he'd even consider re-signing with the Phillies.

That's just my impression from watching him play and listening to the asinine comments he's made over the past two years concerning the fans, the ballpark and the city in general.

hes from california

[ice grillin you]

hes from california

lol...exactly...i never associate philly with so cal

i love utley but hes not philly and i dont just mean from philly because i realize romey is saying his style of play is philly...but hes no more philly than david bell or randy wolf...hes just a better player than either so people like him...david bell busts his ass just as much if not more than utley the difference is he sucks...utley is a great player and thats why people like him...not cause hes 'philly'

the philly media for some reason created this rocky like image for utley one day and since then the fans...looking for soemthing to grasp onto with the phils...have run with it...

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

The Philly media is desirous to see a white 2nd baseman succeed.