2K24: Philadelphia Phillies

[Pogues]

From Elias: Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins all survived last week's trade deadline long enough to reach a significant milestone. Sunday's loss to the Nationals was the 886th regular-season game that they've started together in the field for the Phillies at first base, second base and shortstop, respectively. They've tied the Dodgers' trio of Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes and Bill Russell for the major-league record for most games started together in the field by three teammates at those positions.

Imagine how many games they'd be at if Utley wouldn't have been injured as much as he has been.

[revo]

From Elias: Ryan Howard, Chase Utley and Jimmy Rollins all survived last week's trade deadline long enough to reach a significant milestone. Sunday's loss to the Nationals was the 886th regular-season game that they've started together in the field for the Phillies at first base, second base and shortstop, respectively. They've tied the Dodgers' trio of Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes and Bill Russell for the major-league record for most games started together in the field by three teammates at those positions.

Now take into account that Ron Cey, Steve Yeager & Dusty Baker all played in those games too, and you really have a record!

[wannabegriffey]

A well run club, they should get everything they deserve:


•If the Phillies were to trade Cole Hamels, they would want three or four top prospects in return, and they’d want to avoid eating any of the $96MM remaining on his contract after 2014, Gelb writes.

[Erik]

Scouting director Marti Wolever fired. Probably a few years too late given the abysmal drafting of the past 10 years.

[Judge Jude]

Phillies finish last, missing out on the epic three-way, 77-83 dead heat for 2nd place with 2 games to go among the Braves, Marlins, and Mets. lots of scoreboard watching this weekend!
#notreally

[Erik]

Scouting director Marti Wolever fired. Probably a few years too late given the abysmal drafting of the past 10 years.

The Wolever firing may have been as much a product of the "ratting out" fiasco as the poor drafting.

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20141002_Expect_Comcast_to_insist_on_Phillies_changes.html#osjGtOU6LVdMESko.99

In any case, the dismissal of amateur scouting director Marti Wolever was not the first shoe to fall in that process. As much as anything, Wolever was fired because he embarrassed the organization earlier this year by dropping a dime on two draft picks whom, upon the advice of agents they weren't supposed to have, decided not to sign with the Phils for what was being offered.

This stuff goes on all the time and major league teams just suck it up and move on. Not Wolever, who reported them, the team's fifth- and sixth-round picks, for heaven's sake, to the NCAA. One kid was suspended 11 games, the other was cleared, and the Phillies looked like bullies who are no better at judging what players will do before they reach the field than they are at judging what they will do upon getting there.
Montgomery, according to those close to him, was livid, because the Phils can tolerate almost anything except bad manners. Not that the scouting department doesn't need an overhaul, and not that the farm system isn't an arid dust bowl, but that alone wasn't the main issue.

[Erik]

Well, this could be a doozy.

http://www.nj.com/phillies/index.ssf/2014/10/ryan_howard_could_be_out_david_montgomery_forced_out_john_middleton_to_become_owner_per_report.html

David Montgomery, part owner and former president, did not step aside from the team back in August voluntarily for health reasons, but was instead pushed out by the owners due to decisions he has made in re-signing some of the older veterans on the team.

John Middleton, who is currently a minority owner, has been collecting ownership of the team, and now owns 48% of the team. No owner can own the majority, unless it is approved in a vote, which is expected to take place. That would allow Middleton to become the majority owner. Middleton, when/if he has majority control, will allow Pat Gillick to serve as the president of the team, and the two will be heavily involved in baseball decisions.

There has been a lot of wishcasting over the years about Middleton, a billionaire who has a Steinbrenneresque desire to win as compared to the rest of the owners, who are milquetoast socialites just happy to be part of the ownership fraternity, assuming control. Now it looks like it may happen, with Middleton and Pat Gillick keeping Amaro around at least for now but having much more say in what he does.

According to the article, moves being considered include cutting Howard and eating the rest of his contract, and trading Hamels for prospects.

There have also been reports about pressure from Comcast, which paid the team billions for TV rights and whose top execs are based in the city, for changes.

This could still be wishcasting, as Howard Eskin is not exactly the most reliable guy.

[heyelander]

I'm not sure who I trust less... The phillies front office or Eskin.

http://zozone.mlblogs.com/2014/10/03/phillies-refute-report/

Phillies Refute Report

The Phillies this morning refuted a TV report last night that Phillies president David Montgomery had been ousted from his position in August, and that limited partner John Middleton is making a push to own the majority of the franchise.

Multiple sources also refuted the report.

[Papa Deuce]

FWIW, I heard Eskin on the radio today, and he said he got it from MULTIPLE trusted sources.

[Erik]

The word I'm hearing from a Phillies board where some folks have relationships with team insiders is that the "Montgomery forced out" part is inaccurate, or at least put more coldly than how it really went down, but the rest of it is accurate.

I think there may be a power struggle going on, with both sides whispering to allies in the media.

Is Eskin becoming John Middleton's mouthpiece like he once was Andy Reid's? It wouldn't shock me.

[heyelander]

How much do you trust RAJ to be the one to make the hamels trade? yeah... not that much.

[whalewang]

What's the outlook for Maikel Franco for 2015?

[Gregg]

What's the outlook for Maikel Franco for 2015?

Bump.

[Erik]

Depends on what happens with Howard. If he's gone, there will be more consistent PT for Franco, Asche and Ruf. If they also get rid of Byrd or Brown, then all three can play every day.

[Mendoza_Line]

What is the latest on Hamels?
Are they still looking to shop him?
Will the losers in the Scherzer stakes be the likely destinations?