From Buster Olney's chat:

First

Pete: The price was incredibly high, and the Jays never moved, which makes me wonder how serious the ownership was about moving him. That said, if I was the Phillies, I would've done what it took to get him... He would've been perfect for them. In the end, the Phillies did well, of course, but I'd still prefer Halladay over Lee.

Second:

Early World Series predictions?
Buster Olney (1:36 PM)

Mike: I had Rays over the Phillies before the season, and if I had a do-over today, I'd probably pick the Phillies over the Yankees or the Red Sox... A lot depends on whether the Red Sox can get somebody healthy or productive in the No. 4 or No. 5 spots in their rotation.

So he criticizes the Phils for not getting Halladay but then later predicts them to win the WS? Doesn't that then support the stance Sir Smugness took?

He said he'd "probably" pick the Phillies. It's not like he said they're a lock now that they've gotten Lee. I think it's pretty clear that he's saying the Phils did well but, in his opinion, Halladay would have made them even better.

JFLNYC wrote:He said he'd "probably" pick the Phillies. It's not like he said they're a lock now that they've gotten Lee. I think it's pretty clear that he's saying the Phils did well but, in his opinion, Halladay would have made them even better.

I guess but if in the end, he puts them as the favorite to win the WS, then wouldn't it be justified to say Lee was the better decision considering the cost(s)?

The process last week was not without its small bumps. Executives later acknowledged that some in the front office favored Halladay and some preferred acquiring Lee, though all were happy with the final deal. Amaro guarded every morsel of information with excessive secrecy, and then complained that the media - and therefore the public - were misinformed. And despite a professed openness to all perspectives, the front office is largely uninterested in the statistical innovations that have helped teams such as Boston and Tampa Bay succeed in recent years.

But Amaro and the group he assembled for just such a moment as they encountered - deadline approaching, major decisions to make, this and future seasons simultaneously on the line - were impressive in passing their first major test.

Link

That bold part is a tad disappointing. The article itself is a good read.

Amaro guarded every morsel of information with excessive secrecy, and then complained that the media - and therefore the public - were misinformed.

Ah, another reporter whining because they're not treated right. And nice switch to editorial mode... "Excessive secrecy" according to who? And it's funny how apparently it's Amaro's fault when reporters print 3rd hand rumors as news and they turn out not to be true.

Rev_Beezer wrote:That bold part is a tad disappointing. The article itself is a good read.

I wonder what statistical innovations they aren't interested in. They annually lead the league in runs scored because they are near the top or at the top of the league in OBP and slugging. They steal bases at a fabulous rate. Their baserunning in general is very efficient. They play very fine defense.

If they are indeed not interested in statistical innovations it hasn't prevented them from very good at most of the statistics that help a team win ball games. So maybe that's not such a bad thing.

As you look at the folks that form the brain trust and look at how well their responsibilities coincide quite nicely with what they are good at, you see part of why this club has been so well run. The article indicates that Amaro is very good at accepting input form those around him.

The Red Sox are probably the best run team in MLB. But the Phils really aren't slouches in this respect.

Bucky wrote:The Phillies' Tom McCarthy has been elected and enshrined in the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. True Story.

You guys don't believe me eh

Phils twitter says Shane joined the UFC?

underwear-free club?

Grotewold wrote:Phils twitter says Shane joined the UFC?

Meh

The Flyin Hawaiian lives in Las Vegas and once kicked his fiancé in the face

I guess Vic never sparred with Saenz.

Griffey's Jr.'s bizarre splits this year

vs R
.667 OPS, 5 HR in 216 AB
vs. L
.935 OPS with a .583 SLG and 6 HR in just 60 AB

Road
.612 OPS
Home
.903 OPS

At least the fans at home have something to cheer when he plays

ex-Phil prospect Jorge Padilla is finally making his ML debut....called up by the Nats to replace Kearns (DL)

Wow! Didn't know he was still around.

This is Ichiro's 9th MLB season, and he has 1,964 hits.

The record for most hits in an MLB players' first TEN seasons is Paul Waner with 2,036.

JerryArr wrote:This is Ichiro's 9th MLB season, and he has 1,964 hits.

The record for most hits in an MLB players' first TEN seasons is Paul Waner with 2,036.

That's cool and everything, but Ichiro did have the benefit of entering the league in his prime.

I wonder what the record for most hits in a 10 year stretch is; wouldn't shock me at all if Ichiro winds up holding that one as well.

Bakestar wrote:

JerryArr wrote:This is Ichiro's 9th MLB season, and he has 1,964 hits.

The record for most hits in an MLB players' first TEN seasons is Paul Waner with 2,036.

That's cool and everything, but Ichiro did have the benefit of entering the league in his prime.

I wonder what the record for most hits in a 10 year stretch is; wouldn't shock me at all if Ichiro winds up holding that one as well.

Unfortunately, I can't find that (at least, not using baseball-reference's Play Index), but not doubt he's at least close to it.

I didn't like Ichiro when he first came up, but that was unfounded resentment towards all the hype. After watching him play live a few times and on tv many other times I've come to love him.