Just when I thought I was getting pretty good at this writing thing, I read a well reasoned article like this and realize I'm still a hack. My buddy Johnny Gold's favorite writer, Phil Anastasia of the Camden Courier Post, has finally put into words exactly why we are so frustrated by this franchise. The Phils' brass treat this franchise like a college fraternity instead of the cold, hard business that it is. Continually, they prove to be too "buddy, buddy" with everyone and are afraid to make the necessary moves to improve the team because they would have to trade away their personal favorites who are great with the fans and management. Honestly, I could care less. Give me 25 pricks on this team that don't talk to the fans or media. As long as they win, I'll roll with them.
Ok, without further adieu, here's the Phil Anastasia article:
It was cold and calculated.
The Chicago White Sox decision to release reserve catcher Chris Widger, a Pennsville High School graduate, was hard business by an organization in the hard business of winning in professional sports.
You know, an organization not like the Phillies.
The White Sox released Widger, a popular veteran who played an important supporting role for last year's World Series champions, to shake up the clubhouse. It was a message move. It was a decision designed to stir the team from the complacency that sometimes surrounds a defending champion.
Fair?
No.
Widger is a good guy, decent player and respected veteran.
But in a sense, that was the point.
Chicago management used him as a reminder to the rest of the team that the White Sox need to pick up their play. The organization's reference to a disappointment in Widger's "game preparation" was code to the rest of the team: Snap out of it.
Cold?
Yes.
Calculated?
Yes.
But these guys are in a hard, hard business.
Losing is unacceptable.
Heads will roll.
Now let's contrast that with the clubby, collegial atmosphere in the Phillies' organization, where no amount of year-after-year losing can change the culture.
This is a team that after Wednesday night's win is still eight games under .500.
This is a team in fourth-place in the NL East, just a game-and-a-half out of last place.
This is a team with a $90 million-plus payroll and a better record than all of three other clubs in the National League.
Doesn't something, anything, have to be done?
(And, no, trading Sal Fasano to the Yankees for a Single-A infielder doesn't count).
Doesn't the manager have to go, just to remind the players, the coaches and most of all the fans that this level of performance will not be tolerated?
Doesn't the third baseman, or the catcher, or somebody, anybody, have to take a hike just to establish that this is unacceptable?
It's not about scapegoating. It's not even about fixing this season, which is beyond repair.
It's about setting a tone, creating a new climate, and making sure that young stars such as Ryan Howard and Chase Utley understand that this organization is better than this.
It's about the cold, hard business of professional sports.
6 comments:
i couldn't have said it better myself.....this team needs a shake-up......there is a wuss at third, in left field, behind the plate(today at least)and a wussy pitcher who doesn't have the balls to hit anyone but his wife....i hate this team...they have no heart....other than utley and howard they all are heartless.....i also despise that tard coach who shouldn't be coaching a highschool team let alone a major league squad.....hey, burrell if your pants weren't so tight maybe you could swing that bat better....i hate this team worse than the sixers...
Nicely said, Gold
Easy on Uncle Charlie. Anger should be directed at the management that hired him. He shouldn't have been given the position.
Jorge...wasn't it your boy Ed Wade that hired him?
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