dajafi wrote:I'd love to know if he just feels like he's done, or if it's more a case of "this experience is miserable and because of the contract I signed, it's the only place I can play." To put it another way, could he go on the retired list, the Phillies could cede his rights, and then he becomes a free agent and un-retires?

Couldn't both sides decline their options and then he's a FA?

As long as he is gone then that is fine. What a terrible signing he ended up being. Looked good at the time.

heyeaglefn wrote:As long as he is gone then that is fine. What a terrible signing he ended up being. Looked good at the time.

With both him and Byrd, I liked the deals--especially Burnett's--because I figured if the team wasn't contending, as most of us expected, they both could be moved. Not sure if that wasn't actually part of the plan ("what plan?") or if they just couldn't execute.

heyeaglefn wrote:As long as he is gone then that is fine. What a terrible signing he ended up being. Looked good at the time.

Looked good until the anyone heard the phrase "vesting option." As a one-year flier, why not? As a potential multi-year deal, yeesh.

I'm still skeptical he retires until he actually does it. I know he doesn't need the money, but it's gotta be hard to walk away from a guaranteed $12 million.

keithlaw 1h

2014 Phillies season, as described by Modest Mouse: You wasted life, why wouldn't you waste death

no idea what he's going for here

Anyone catch Montgomery pledging that Amaro is not on the hot seat?

I don't think I really have it in me to "quit" the Phillies, anymore than I can quit, say, caffeine. They're starting to beg the question, though.

Tweedle Dee endorsing Tweedle Dum

AJ Burnett has provided the same amount of bWAR (0.1) in 171.1 IP as the guy that the Phils released to make room for him, Joe Savery, has provided to the A's in 4.0 IP.

Does that sum up the 2014 Phillies or what?

I need to root for another team for awhile. The A's are exciting at least.

I've never done this before in baseball. I don't know if I really have it in me to abandon ship this way.

dajafi wrote:Anyone catch Montgomery pledging that Amaro is not on the hot seat?

I don't think I really have it in me to "quit" the Phillies, anymore than I can quit, say, caffeine. They're starting to beg the question, though.

Hope monty thinks about his health and steps away after the season.

ReadingPhilly wrote:

dajafi wrote:Anyone catch Montgomery pledging that Amaro is not on the hot seat?

I don't think I really have it in me to "quit" the Phillies, anymore than I can quit, say, caffeine. They're starting to beg the question, though.

Hope monty thinks about his health and steps away after the season.

I definitely can see that as the outcome: Montgomery retires, Amaro is kicked upstairs in some capacity, a new GM comes in. Question is whether that would really change anything.

dajafi wrote:Anyone catch Montgomery pledging that Amaro is not on the hot seat?

I don't think I really have it in me to "quit" the Phillies, anymore than I can quit, say, caffeine. They're starting to beg the question, though.

Did anyone think that Monty would ever publicly say Ruben was in jeopardy of losing his job? I can't recall a situation where he has ever conducted himself that way, but he can't just no comment or non-answer that type of specific question.

I know that this story isn't going to be received well (hell I don't like it either) but I see this as being a non-story. The only thing that matters is whether Ruben is actually fired in the near future, not whether we have some advance warning of it.

RichmondPhilsFan wrote:

dajafi wrote:Anyone catch Montgomery pledging that Amaro is not on the hot seat?

I don't think I really have it in me to "quit" the Phillies, anymore than I can quit, say, caffeine. They're starting to beg the question, though.

Did anyone think that Monty would ever publicly say Ruben was in jeopardy of losing his job? I can't recall a situation where he has ever conducted himself that way, but he can't just no comment or non-answer that type of specific question.

I know that this story isn't going to be received well (hell I don't like it either) but I see this as being a non-story. The only thing that matters is whether Ruben is actually fired in the near future, not whether we have some advance warning of it.

You're gonna have a really rough 2015 and 2016

Monty also said Wade was safe during the 2005 season, so...

Also I would only trust Zolecki to read the tea leaves if they were like actual tea leaves

RichmondPhilsFan wrote:

dajafi wrote:Anyone catch Montgomery pledging that Amaro is not on the hot seat?

I don't think I really have it in me to "quit" the Phillies, anymore than I can quit, say, caffeine. They're starting to beg the question, though.

Did anyone think that Monty would ever publicly say Ruben was in jeopardy of losing his job? I can't recall a situation where he has ever conducted himself that way, but he can't just no comment or non-answer that type of specific question.

I feel like GMs (or managers) who are on the hot seat nearly always get a public vote of confidence from their bosses before getting fired. (Which doesn't mean that the public vote of confidence means he's going to be fired...)

BigEd76 wrote:Monty also said Wade was safe during the 2005 season, so...

Exactly my point. You really don't see a public undermining of the team executive in the overwhelming majority of these situations. And Montgomery is especially unlikely to do that, simply because he's not a confrontational type.

FTR, I'm very skeptical that Ruben is getting fired anytime soon. I just don't think this quote sheds any light one way or the other.

Rev_Beezer wrote:I need to root for another team for awhile. The A's are exciting at least.

I've never done this before in baseball. I don't know if I really have it in me to abandon ship this way.

you're really not welcome back if you leave though

I cannot believe the Phils leadership (above Amaro) is so out of touch. They are last on baseball in so many modern techniques. There is no "plan" not one that anyone can believe. Amaro doesn't even SOUND like he knows what he's talking about. There is zero credibility.

I guess if you look at the club as an investment, they are doing fine. It's worth a lot. The good years and the new park, a World Series win, etc... and they can just do this -- but I think sadly, we are reminded that no matter how the stars align for a little spell - if its the same basic people at the top with same basic viewpoints and working styles -- not much will change. Need a TOTAL house-cleaning. This all started when Bill Giles got to be in charge. He was the beginning of the ruinous post 70's glory era.

The Bucks? How many still alive?

The Phils have done one major thing the fans cannot take them to task on -- have a high payroll.

But to admit, "we're idiots" and don't know how to build or sustain a competitive club in this era of baseball. Well...not going to happen.

Most hard core fans seems ready to take on some lean years to become the A's -- let young talent emerge and know its going in a direction. But this slow death with career Phillies...

Most likely, they will buy a few more players this off-season and meld them with the remaining core and take another run at it...

They know they are out of contention. Is there ANY reason at all, not to play young players every day to find out what you have? I don't get it. There is no vision, no plan and little to provide hope....

Philly the Kid wrote:Is there ANY reason at all, not to play young players every day to find out what you have? I don't get it. There is no vision, no plan and little to provide hope....

Trying to win games.