Abreu and Lidle traded for garbage

by dajafi on Jul 30, 2006 2:21 PM EDT in News

The Abreu Era is Over
(credit: Rube Waddell)

Four years and a day after the Phillies dealt Scott Rolen to the Cardinals for an aging reliever, an injured minor-league starter and a league-average infielder, the team has made what might well be a worse deal to send an arguably better player out of Philadelphia.

Abreu and Cory Lidle, who has won his last four starts and is a career 41-25 pitcher after August 1, were traded for infielder C.J. Henry, lefty reliever Matt Smith, catcher Jesus Sanchez, and pitcher Carlos Monasterios. Smith is a triple-A lefty; the other three are 20, 18, and 20 respectively, and all played in the Gulf Coast League, the lowest level of the minors in the U.S. It's very possible that none of these four "prospects" will be anything more than marginal major-leaguers... in 2011 or so.

Henry, the most-heralded of these prospects, is a 20 year-old who put up a .714 OPS in the Gulf Coast League last season. This year at low-A Charleston, he's hitting .237 with a .676 OPS. Smith is... you know what? I don't give a shit. He's a 27 year-old effing relief pitcher.

This for Abreu, one of the best offensive players in club history, and Lidle, the best starter known to be on the market.

And this was a deal the Phillies didn't have to make. They could have made a better deal for Lidle alone, they could have held onto Abreu for next year, recouped two draft picks for Lidle, or dealt Abreu in the off-season.

I give up. This is just a crushing piece of bad news.

Tweet Comment 50 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Can't even

imagine how they will try to spin this, given that this was clearly only about saving money. It is, as you say, utterly depressing that they apparently didn't get even one intriguing prospect in the deal, even if just to save face. .237 in Single-A! WTF were they negotiating about all week? Ugh.

-- Stu

by sdf on Jul 30, 2006 3:55 PM EDT reply actions

uh, what?

lidle's inclusion in this doesn't make any sense. you're not really dumping any salary with him, so he's the sweetener? the sweenter to a deal for one of the best offensive players on the market? and what was the point of getting a lefthanded AAA reliever?

by gr on Jul 30, 2006 4:28 PM EDT reply actions

oh sheesh

WHAT A FREAKING HORRIBLE TRADE

Screw Gillick. I don't know why I bother with these morons anymore, they just suck.

http://hugetinymistake.wordpress.com/

by pacino on Jul 30, 2006 4:29 PM EDT reply actions

Class

I don't know if anyone saw the TV interview with Bobby, but he stays classy to the end.

My favorite player of all-time, I hope he wins a World Series before he retires. Heck, win a few.

http://hugetinymistake.wordpress.com/

by pacino on Jul 30, 2006 4:39 PM EDT reply actions

World Series

Not only am I horrible depressed about this trade in general. But now I find myself in a sickening position -- I want so much for Abreu to get a ring he really deserves and want him to shut up all the "he's not clutch" idiots. At the same time, that requires rooting for the Yankees, which is like rooting for cancer.

So, man, today probably couldn't be any worse than it is.

by Laaaaazzz on Jul 30, 2006 7:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Meet the new boss

It really doesn't matter who the GM is, as long as this team is run by who runs it, we don't have a chance. If we're going to trade the second best Phillie ever for absolute garbage, and in the process actually make the team's rebuilding process worse.... why even bother?

by DanT on Jul 30, 2006 5:18 PM EDT reply actions

can't argue

What kills me about this trade is the paltry return. It's okay to get worse now if it improves the odds of getting better later. But this move didn't even do that.

Gillick evidently said in his press conference that the team "doesn't expect to contend" in 2007.

A TEAM IN THIS SIZE MARKET SHOULD EXPECT TO CONTEND EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

by dajafi on Jul 30, 2006 5:29 PM EDT up reply actions

re:can't argue

anybody find it funny that we went from '5 games away' to 'doesn't expect to contend'???

http://hugetinymistake.wordpress.com/

by pacino on Jul 30, 2006 5:31 PM EDT up reply actions

Wow

We've reached the point where every piece of information makes this a bigger disaster.

by DanT on Jul 30, 2006 5:38 PM EDT up reply actions

I give up

I can't take this season anymore. It doesn't even help for 2007.

by lethal on Jul 30, 2006 5:28 PM EDT reply actions

Time to drink the tained Kool-Aid

The worst part is you can't even say, "Well, at least the Eagles are good"...

by fuzzycopper on Jul 30, 2006 6:33 PM EDT reply actions

you guys need to look at the bigger picture

Abreu was only going to be hear 1 more year max. His value is dipping. Nobody wanted to give up anything. And take on that big contract. What Abreu is makeing money wise he has to be a MVP canidate, which he was not where close too. Lidle was gone after this year also. Now what you did was stock your farm system. CJ Henry is a 2005 #1 draft pick, 17th overall. Now what you did was find Rollins replacement in 3 to 4 years, Matt Smith is now going to be your left handed specialist. His ERA under 3 looks nice. We need to replace what we have in Cormier. ML ready. Cant say anything on Sanchez, but at 18 who knows, signed in 04, 16 years old. Maybe his is going to be something. You know how the yanks are with those Dominican players. Same thing with Carlos Monasterios, young Dominican player with a 2.37 ERA. Remember, the Yanks look at Dominican players way more then the phils do. Remember this isn't Wade anymore. Gillick is a real baseball guy let him do his job. He has won everywhere. Give it a chance. But you want to know the best part. How about if losing Abreu, Lidle, and Bells money bring in say Carlos lee and Jason Schmidt. Would you trade Abreu, Lidle, Bell for Lee, Schimdt, and 5 minor league legit prospects. No brainer right. Now if Gillick does the right thing this off season.

by Philsin06 on Jul 30, 2006 6:57 PM EDT reply actions

The bigger picture is also garbage

These prospects are horrible. Flat out horrible. Now, Cory Lidle would've netted two draft picks in the Top 40. So we're actually making the farm system worse.

This is a salary dump, nothing more, nothing less. Who trusts the Phils to spend the money right?

by DanT on Jul 30, 2006 7:00 PM EDT up reply actions

in order to get those picks

the phils would have offered him a contract. They were not going to do this. so no picks would have been coming.

by Philsin06 on Jul 30, 2006 9:20 PM EDT up reply actions

absurd

Of course they would have offered him arbitration. And he almost certainly would have declined, going for multiple years at more total money rather than taking one year for $5 million or so. The Phils would have had two picks in the top 40 if Lidle'd gone to a contender, top 60 if a bad team had signed him.

You seem to have as little understanding of baseball economics as you do of player evaluation.

by dajafi on Jul 30, 2006 9:22 PM EDT up reply actions

as far as evaluation

tell that to baseball amercica who pretty much said what i did in more detail. I just hope your still around in 3-4 years. How do you know that the 20 year old pitcher goes to AA next year and lights out.

by Philsin06 on Jul 30, 2006 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions

Umm

Baltimore, of course, not being part of everywhere.

by kdon on Jul 30, 2006 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions

not all prospects are created equal

Your post makes it clear that you have no idea how to evaluate young players.

Henry, the "prize" of the bunch, is Greg Golson as an infielder with a worse attitude. The lefty reliever is a non-factor. The other two guys are so far away from the majors that you can't even really guess at what they might become.

This was a straight salary dump. The best way I can try to explain it is this: imagine the Phillies were in an alternate universe where they'd entered play today ten games over .500, in the lead for the wild-card and within striking distance of the Mets. They find out that the Cubs are dealing, and make a move to add Aramis Ramirez and Greg Maddux. They trade Golson, Brian Sanches, and two GCL guys you've never heard of for Ramirez and Maddux.

Now imagine you're a Cubs fan. How do you feel about this trade?

by dajafi on Jul 30, 2006 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions

well lets see how baseball america views it

If I am so bad at evaluating players.

Henry, 20, was the 17th overall pick in 2005 out of an Oklahoma high school. Considered one of the top athletes in that draft, he could have played basketball at Kansas, where his father Carl played en route to a brief NBA career. There were some concerns that Henry's swing was long and mechanical, and that he would have to make several adjustments in order to hit for average. Those have proven to be well-founded. He batted just .249 in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in his debut, and just .237/.326/.350 with two homers, 33 RBIs and 14 steals in 76 games at low Class A Charleston this year. His raw power and his speed are both plus tools, and he has the physical skills to play shortstop as a 6-foot-3, 205-pounder

Smith, 27, was a 2000 fourth-round pick from Oklahoma State. He made his big league debut earlier this year, pitching 12 scoreless innings in as many appearances. He has spent most of the season at Triple-A Columbus, going 0-1, 2.08 in 24 appearances. He has a 22-8 K-BB ratio, .267 opponent average and three homers allowed in 26 innings. With an 88-92 mph fastball and a sweeping slider, he projects mostly as a situational lefthander.

Both Sanchez and Monasterios signed out of Venzuela in 2004 and have made their U.S. debuts this season in the GCL. Sanchez, 18, is quite athletic for a catcher and has promising catch-and-throw skills. His biggest drawback is a lack of power at 5-foot-11 and 160 pounds. He's hitting .264/.343/.319 with no homers and 10 RBIs in 23 games.

Monasterios, 20, has a live, loose arm and has a fastball that has been clocked up to 96 mph. The rest of his stuff is fringy at this point. He owns a 1-2, 2.97 record in seven games (three starts). He has a 24-3 K-BB ratio, .207 opponent average and two homers allowed in 30 innings.

by Philsin06 on Jul 30, 2006 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions

well...

Thanks at least for posting that--I hadn't seen it.

But BA is notorious for over-valuing "tools." Give me guys who understand how to play the game.

The one thing I'll grant about Henry is that he's drawing walks this year. A 90-point gap between batting average and OBP is pretty solid.

by dajafi on Jul 30, 2006 9:37 PM EDT up reply actions

complete failure

Here is Sickels pre-season Yankees top 10 prospects list: http://www.minorleagueball.com/story/2006/6/25/161636/306. Notice that the Phils received Henry at #6 but he is struggling. From Sickels comments and those of others who track prospects, the Yankees have only two legitimate future contributors: Hughes and Tabata. Since the Yankees refused to part with either of them, why deal with the Yankees at all? If the argument is that they were the only team willing to pay Abreu's salary, then why not eat $5 million per year? Abreu becomes much more attractive at $11 million/year and would fetch a much better bag of prospects.

For comparison, here is what the Marlins obtained from the Mets for Delgado last November: RHP Yusmeiro Petit, C/1B-L Mike Jacobs, and 3B-R Grant Psomas.

What is really a kick in the teeth about this deal is that it doesn't cost the yankees much money. Sheffield and Williams are making a combined $12.25 million this year and are free agents after this season. With Abreu and Cabrera, the Yankees can let both of them walk.

by Celebre Twins on Jul 30, 2006 7:17 PM EDT reply actions

Baseball America

Here is Baseball America's view: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/majors/news/262077.html

by Celebre Twins on Jul 30, 2006 7:31 PM EDT up reply actions

unimpressive

Gillick has made very few nice moves thus far in his Phillies tenure, and it's not as if the Orioles were world beaters during his tenure (though, to be fair, at least they made the playoffs), so for me at least, Gillick gets very little, if any, slack.

And while it's true that teams wouldn't give up the world for Abreu (who, regardless of which statistical method you prefer, still ranks as a Top 20 offensive force, even if he looks to be rapidly aging), we're supposed to get excited about a stack of single-A players with generally horrible stats? That CJ Henry was a #1 means he has a pedigree but he's done little else to back up the lofty standing to date. As for Smith, the only guy we'll see in the next few years, he's already 27 with a total of 12 unimpressive innings for his career.

I like the idea of tearing down this team and restocking the farm system so that the team might be good in a few years, but the C-level prospects they're stocking it with is, at best, underwhelming. And though, granted, it'll take years before this swap can be properly evaluated, right now it looks more like a glorified salary dump than a legitimate baseball trade.

by fuzzycopper on Jul 30, 2006 7:21 PM EDT reply actions

This is more about...

Gillick showing he knows what this team needs (being cleaned out) than what it really needed, a couple more parts. His guy, Rowand, has turned into a bust and so he trade's Wade's guy, the best OBP player on this team. If the money translated into something as good as Abreu, then fine. But it won't, and count that as a net loss.

We can only hope the prospects turn into something good. I really don't know, but I can just hope.

by jonk on Jul 30, 2006 8:25 PM EDT reply actions

In case nobody noticed

the phils should win 3 in a row without Abreu. This lineup is way better. Utley in the 3 hole is a natural and the phils are better off. again the phils should have 40 mill to spend in the off season. and yes they will spend the money. They have always spent the money. Thome, Abreu, Rollins, Wolf, Lieberthal, Lieber, Burrell do i need to continue.

by Philsin06 on Jul 30, 2006 9:43 PM EDT reply actions

it's amazing...

what decent starting pitching will do for you. Even Wolf kept them in the game today. The Phils have gotten good-to-great starts in five of their last six (Wolf being the exception) since Lieber's last outing.

Granted, a hidden benefit of being sellers could be that Madson gets the rest of the year to make his case for remaining in the rotation.

But trying to spin this mini-run as at all related to the Abreu deal is beyond silly. They've also got their two best hitters playing out of their minds right now, and Burrell is having a strong weekend.

by dajafi on Jul 30, 2006 10:07 PM EDT up reply actions

like i said

Utley is made for the 3 hole. Look at Abreu .277 avg. with a bunch of walks. #3 hitters shouldnt walk as much as abreu. then add in all those SO. I have said all along just dumping his salary and spending it on pitching will win out. I was told this team wont score runs. So what is it going to be. Cant you see how having an extra lefty out of the lineup lets Howard to bat 4th. This lineup today is a better lineup then with Abreu in it. Look at the runs that are being scored. 11 runs today, only 1 HR hit. Better situational hitting. I do not get why people in here dont understand this. Now if Rowand could be gone this would be so much better. We dont need all those K's in the lineup. kills a rally. Besides PITCHING wins out. Got to have pitching. Abreu was worthless here. especially for 16 million dollars. That is MVP money.

by Philsin06 on Jul 30, 2006 10:34 PM EDT up reply actions

Please

Stop responding to Philsin06. He's not worth the time.

by phatj on Jul 30, 2006 10:17 PM EDT reply actions

SHUT UP

you moron

by Philsin06 on Jul 30, 2006 10:26 PM EDT up reply actions

easy, guys

We're all on the same side here.

by dajafi on Jul 30, 2006 10:31 PM EDT reply actions

I guess

by phatj on Jul 30, 2006 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I cant believe i get killed because I look at the

good side of things. I dont sit here and bash or be negative. You need to have an open mind sometimes. Look they will have over 40 million next year. That could bring alot. Add with what is here. We will see a true #1 pitcher next year. You need to relax and just except they weren't going to win this year. Abreu was gone after next year anyway. Just because i give a different spin on things, i dont lie. i am ususally right. This lineup is better without abreu. you see it already. This team is officially Chase Utley's. Who would your rather have.

by Philsin06 on Jul 30, 2006 10:38 PM EDT reply actions

lineup

No way. If you want to argue that Abreu should have led off, with an order of Abreu/Rollins/Utley/Burrell/Howard/etc, I can buy that. But a lineup with Abreu misused is still very likely to prove better than one without him.

And what I'm upset about, at least, isn't that Abreu was dealt--but that we got nothing of value for him after hearing some pretty appealing names. I'd rather have seen the Phils do what they did in the Thome deal: eat some chunk of salary and get back someone who might really help them win in 2008... by which time Abreu's contract would have been off the books anyway.

How do you see a #1 coming? What trade will bring that guy? Odds are very good IMO that Brett Myers is your opening-day starter next year. He's certainly not awful, but I don't think that's what you mean.

The team happens to be playing well--against a Marlins team that had been playing way over its head and was probably due for a rough stretch. Don't overemphasize a few days of games.

And when you're proven wrong, stick around and admit it.

by dajafi on Jul 30, 2006 10:47 PM EDT up reply actions

I am just curious

what do you think they could have recieved. Obviously nobody in MLB wanted him. So maybe your over valueing him. This farm system stinks. A good farm will bring good trades if needed at a deadline. Do you see this team is not winning. Nobody wants abreu. do you see this. Be thankfull the phils wont have to pay him. remember only 1 year left for abreu was going to be here. Do you remember trying to trade him in the offseason and cant. nobody wanted him what part dont you get, what does that tell you.

by Philsin06 on Jul 30, 2006 10:53 PM EDT reply actions

see my post

above this one. Maybe if the Phils picked up half, they'd have gotten Duncan or Clippard.

by dajafi on Jul 30, 2006 11:02 PM EDT up reply actions

they wouldnt be worth

8 million dollars. Besides what if a 3b comes tommorrow.

by Philsin06 on Jul 30, 2006 11:41 PM EDT reply actions

Where is the money going?

Anyone have any idea what the Phils will end up shelling out by the end of the season (assuming no other big bucks are moved)? I am guessing that they have shed like 8 mil or so this year, which brings them down to 86 mil. IS this just free money for the partners? I doubt it is money that can be averaged back in to expected payrolls in the future.

by jonk on Jul 30, 2006 11:54 PM EDT reply actions

The Phils needed to move forward...

Let's face it, the current Phils team is way past its experation date and holding on to players like Abreu and Lidle would only make things worse. Would I have liked to see more talent for Abreu? Sure, but these are Abreu's downsides: one, he's being paid much more than he is worth; two, his power numbers are declining over the last two years; three given his age he is unlikely to get significantly better than a couple of years ago.

You have to ask yourself one final question: If Gillack can't ring more talent for Abreu out of the rest of MLB now, then when can he do it? Would Abreu be worth more in the offseason to other teams, with no pennent race and no trade line bearing down on them, then he is now? I doubt it.

The longer the Phils wait to move the current bunch out, the harder it is to evaluate what talent is left. I was glad to see that Gillack is active trying to move Burrell--unfortunately Burrell is seriously overpaid for what his numbers are. Burrell would make a great DH but not at his current salary.

By the way this another reason we need to get the NL to adopt the DH ASAP, it is a serious handicapp for NL teams to have to deal with. Last year the Phils were forced to unload Jim Thome and now we're having the same problem with Burrell--I hate the DH but I'm sick of being screwed over by it.

I think the biggest myth about these trades is that we can "restock our minors" by trading away guys like Lidle and Abreu. I don't believe it will happen because we won't get enough minor league players. So many minor leaguers don't pan out, outside of the few higher percentage "can't miss" high picks, the only way to restock the minors is with good scouting and willingness to spend money on a lot of players with the understanding only a few will become everyday players or better in the majors. I'm sure Gillack will minor leaguers but not enough talent in those players to lead the Phils back to respectiablity.

The primary goal now should be to clear out salary and roster space to allow the Phils to play what young and new talent they do have so that they can be evaluated (and showcased) before the end of this year. If we can get some talent back, great, but if not, we should still do it. The Phils need to make some decisions over what we will need in the coming seasons to get back into contention.

I mean real contention, not this wild card bull***t "let's play .500 ball and hang around the edge of wild card race. Anything can happen in the post season, you know." That kind of talk in any sport (hockey and basketball especially) makes me want to vomit.

Every team should aspire to excellence and championship; not this half-way house of simply getting to the playoffs so you can have something for your marketing department to brag about in your season highlight reel. I'll gladly forgo a few wild-card apperences for a world series win or two. This kind of "well, we're not great but we don't suck either so I guess we're doing fine" kind of thinking is why the A's still have more world series wins than the Phillies, even the the A's left town over 50 years ago.

by xatsman on Jul 31, 2006 2:42 AM EDT reply actions

THE DH IS A CANCER ON THE GAME IN DISGUISE

The problem with the DL is that starting pitchers stay in games longer and, therefore, with the added innings, year after year, suffer career burn out more quickly. Have you EVER seen more minor league imposters masquerading as major league pitchers than we have right now? My God, it is awful, and not entirely the fault of the moronic over-expansion, although that is part of it, too.

So that, while the NL adopting the DH would help with NL teams become more competitive with the AL, overall, it would generate an even greater glut of older, decidedly washed-up pitchers on the major league scene, and we have an embarressment of those, already. What baseball really needs to do is GET RID OF THE DH and protect young, talented arms, accordingly.

by robbybonfire on Aug 22, 2006 7:55 AM EDT up reply actions

Ewww

I love both Yankees and Phillies, but this one clearly was a daylight armed robery.

it is essentially a strait dump for a ok middle reliever (gee those are hard to come by) and 3 guys that at best can be spinned as "guys that might become decent prospects" espically throwing in Lidle...

If it was strait for Abreu it might have made at least A LITTLE sense... but tossing in Lidle? Pat Gillick must either owe the Yankees some huge favor or hates someone in the Boston system...

Although I'm guessing he was really getting nothing at all, and was force into such a deal. dealing Abreu in the off season is probably tougher, as teams that need a OF could just go out a sign a Soriano / Lee and not needing to dish out prospects anyway....

All I can say is Gillick is going into a hell of a reconstruction job here.... or he's simply retarded...

by RollingWave on Jul 31, 2006 6:04 AM EDT reply actions

Why not wait until today at 4?

If this is the best Gillick could get, why didn't he wait until today at 4? Don't you think more teams would have been interestd in Abreu as we got down the stretch to the deadline? And Lidle too? How is a starting pitcher who can pitch decent innings not worth more than that, especially at 3:59pm on the trade deadline day?

by David S. Cohen on Jul 31, 2006 9:10 AM EDT reply actions

No I don't think teams would have offered more....

Remember the tradeline works both ways, if the Phillies don't make a deal by the end of business on Monday, they can't make a deal either. And, we DO want to make deals.

I don't think teams would offer more on Monday at 4 pm then they would on Saturday at 4 pm. Everyone knows when the deadline is and it has been well known for a couple of weeks among baseball people the Phillies are trying to move people, in fact, most got a call from Gillack or one of the Asst. GMs.

The simple fact is this should have been done a couple of years ago and everyone knows it. So the Phillies are kind of screwed by waiting so long to do this badly overdue house cleaning.

Jack

by xatsman on Jul 31, 2006 10:47 AM EDT up reply actions

i disagree

There is no reason whatsoever for the Phils to feel pressure to make a move by the deadline today? Why couldn't they have waited until the offseason to trade Abreu? Unlike Carlos Lee, he has a year left on his contract. As I posted earlier, if the Phils were willing to eat $5 million of Abreu's contract next year, he becomes an affordable option for a lot of teams.

by Celebre Twins on Jul 31, 2006 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions

I think we'l just have to agree to disagree here

I don't think Abreu is worth more in the offseason. Remember there are only 4 or 5 teams he was willing to go to. Second, it is important to make a move now so we can play other people. If we trade Bobby in November, we don't get to see other players till April.

Also Delucci won't stay unless the Phils give him some playing time so we need to start playing him now--he may not resign with the Phils anyway but we know he won't if he isn't giving playing time before the end of this season.

You make some good arguements though and I can certainly see how you would disagree with me.

by xatsman on Jul 31, 2006 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions

that's what kills me

You can do that, and probably find it easier to deal Bobby after he rebounds in August/September.

AND this allows you to trade Lidle separately, which according to Jayson Stark would have netted the Phils more than they got in the combined trade. IMO a lot more. If not, then you recoup two high picks for Lidle next June. Or bring him back as a #4 in a youth-heavy rotation next season.

From a cold baseball standpoint, I'm more upset about Lidle having been included in this deal than I am about the crap return on Abreu.

by dajafi on Jul 31, 2006 1:59 PM EDT up reply actions

liddle

Good point about Liddle. Baseball Prospectus (http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=5364 - subscription required) has an interesting analysis of Liddle versus the Yankees 5th starters this year. For the remainder of this year, Liddle may be just as valuable if not more so than Abreu.

by Celebre Twins on Jul 31, 2006 3:23 PM EDT up reply actions

NY papers praising the trade...

"Cashman made it on his terms."

Pretty sad when the team that is trying to acquire can make a trade on their terms. Talk about how badly Gillick wanted to get rid of Abreu.

by jonk on Jul 31, 2006 10:13 AM EDT reply actions

great googly moogly

I'm out all day yesterday, get home late, get into work late this morning, and I open my inbox to find an email saying the Phils traded their best player since Mike Schmidt for Andrew Lang, Tim Perry, and....wait, wrong trade.

So with all the moves, they've saved about what, $25 million? I don't have any hope whatsoever that this money will be well used. If you don't believe me, see Abraham Nunez, Ryan Franklin, Alex Gonzalez, Sal Fasano, Arthur Rhodes, etc.

The only positive right now is that Gillick is willing to get rid of his mistakes, which the previous GM did not do. However, being willing to get rid of your mistakes doesn't make a bit of difference if you're going to keep making mistakes in the first place.

Damn, I'm so disappointed. At least I have a keepsake of Bobby's time here, as the back of my 5-year-old's softball card lists Abreu as her favorite player.

by Alex Falzone on Jul 31, 2006 12:00 PM EDT reply actions

see this is what i mean

those players were aquired because there was no money left. Nunez never played. give gillick credit for releasing his mistakes. Rhodes for Micheals is a wash because micheals isnt doing any better. There was no money to spend. And as far as the phils spending money, look at Thome, Abreu, Burrell, Rollins, Gordon, Lieber. They spend the money they just didnt spend it wisely. Ed wade.

by Philsin06 on Jul 31, 2006 2:34 PM EDT up reply actions