Lesson for the Rangers in the Phillies' comeback

by doolindalton on Sep 26, 2006 12:45 PM CDT Comment 7 comments

"Back in July, Gillick was being realistic. The team hadn't done anything but disappoint. Why not junk it?

The wonder is that the message didn't get through to the team. Instead of giving the remaining core of young stars a reason to give up, it inspired them to show their own general manager that he was wrong about what they could do."

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15007048/

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Or...

The National League just blows and even mediocre teams like the Phillies are still in the race.

by Chris Martin on Sep 26, 2006 12:44 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

And the Astros

curse the American League.

You might think I'm crazy. I agree with you.

by trza on Sep 26, 2006 1:25 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

Talent

The A's don't have overwhelming talent either (currently 11th in MLB in batting and 7th in pitching), but they have figured out a way to assemble a group of players capable of competing and winning. The Rangers seem to compete intermittently and win about half the time.

by doolindalton on Sep 26, 2006 2:01 PM CDT up reply actions 0 recs

This current team

is incapable of being inspired. I think that's pretty clear. It's the reason I support blowing it up (to an extent) and starting over.

BRAWLFEST 2006! F the Angels!

by ortonius on Sep 26, 2006 12:53 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs

Ed Wade and Money

Ed Wade wasted so much money on poor players that Gillick had to something to get some sort of financial relief. Let's assume that the Phillies kept all of their players, made the playoffs and then eventually were eliminated (this probably would have happened given the strength of the Mets). Then, in 2007, Gillick would have the same problem he faced at the trade deadline in 2006; how do you compete when you have so much money tied up in so few players? Given the poor play of the Phillies, August 2006 was a good a time as any. Sure, Gillick could have left things the same, make a few marginal moves over the offseason until the contracts of Burrell, Abreu, Leiberthal, et al expire. Doing so would have allowed the team to continue to be the prennial underachievers. Bottom line, the quicker the road back to winning, the bigger the changes Gillick had to make.

by Excel Hearts Choi on Sep 26, 2006 12:56 PM CDT reply actions 0 recs