not to turn this into a political debate, but I will never understand how someone can be blindly loyal to one party. I agree with platforms on the right and left.
Good stuff...that guy is definitely a NYer
Yeah, not trying to turn this into one, but that's my point. Do what's right no matter what. There's no counter argument to that.
Couldn't say it better. I agree with issues on one side more than the other so that is how I typically identify myself and it has changed quite a bit in the past few years.
Oswalt trade proves that for Phillies, now is all that matters Story Highlights
The Phillies got Roy Oswalt from the Houston Astros in a trade Thursday
The Phillies large fan base and massive payroll demand constant success
Philadelphia has won the past three NL East titles and the last two NL pennants
The Beast requires constant feeding, and that is why Roy Oswalt is a Phillie today. Another organization sitting 2 1/2 games out of the wild card and 3 1/2 games out of first place could have passed on the expense, in dollars and prospects, that it took to add a pitcher about to turn 33 years old. But Philadelphia proved it is one of the three organizations in baseball that must feed The Beast. Only the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies operate with this mandate: World Series or bust.
Making the playoffs? That's fine for 27 other franchises. But the Yankees took on The Beast in 2000 and the Red Sox in 2008, and now Philadelphia has it.
Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. didn't fully want to acknowledge the mandate last winter when he foolishly dealt pitcher Cliff Lee in order to do something The Beast cares nothing about: "restock our farm system." It may have been smart baseball for 27 other teams, but not The Big Three. Winning today, not tomorrow, is all that counts. When Boston GM Theo Epstein, for instance, talked about a "bridge" season this year as the Sox waited for young players to develop, the fanatics of Red Sox Nation were ready to heave him off said bridge.
Seven months after trading Lee, Amaro got it. He traded pitcher J.A. Happ and two prospects for Oswalt, who will pitch only about 12 games for Philadelphia this year and is signed for next season. But Oswalt is about October, too, because Amaro knows Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Oswalt can get him back to the World Series -- not just into the National League Division Series or Championship Series -- if the Phillies get into the tournament.
To understand the transformation of Phillies baseball, you need only go back four seasons, to 2006. That year Philadelphia drew 2.7 million fans, ranking seventh among the 16 National League teams. They spent $88 million on payroll. And in their organization were pitchers Hamels, Happ, Brett Myers, Randy Wolf, Gavin Floyd, Gio Gonzalez, Kyle Kendrick, Carlos Carrasco, Matt Maloney, Josh Outman and Carlos Monasterios.
This year the Phillies rank first in the league in attendance, on pace to draw more than 3.6 million. Their payroll is $141 million. And Happ, Myers, Wolf, Floyd, Gonzalez, Carrasco, Maloney, Outman and Monasterios all are pitching elsewhere.
The Phillies fill Citizens Bank Park every night. Their local TV ratings, which are up 16.5 percent this year, are higher than every team except the Cardinals and Twins, who are regional draws. If you go by the average number of households watching the local team, the Phillies have more eyeballs on them than every team except the Mets and Yankees. Think Red Sox Nation is big? The Phillies' viewing audience is 41 percent bigger than the Red Sox's audience and 60 percent bigger than the Cubs' audience.
In just the past 12 months, the Phillies have traded for Halladay, Lee and Oswalt, traded Lee and handed Ryan Howard and Halladay contract extensions worth $185 million that will pay them huge money through their mid-30s.
Go to Citizens Bank Park and the fans are decked out in Phillies gear of all kinds. The team sells Charlie Manuel jerseys, for goodness sake.
Amaro had a choice when it came to what he provides these people: he could put 36 of his team's final 61 games in the hands of Happ, Kendrick and Joe Blanton, and hope not only that it was good enough to make up the deficit in the standings but also good enough to pitch the Phillies through two rounds of the playoffs. Or he could feed The Beast and go get Oswalt to team with Halladay and Hamels in what could be the best October rotation since the mid-90s Braves with Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. Really, there was no choice at all.
That's funny. I've been interested in this topic from a business and numbers stand-point for a while now. I wish there was more out there to analyze. I'm just still bewildered by the fact that it took this long for anyone - especially the fucking organization - to acknowledge it. Though I'm curious how the long term numbers will look when the core of this team has passed.
'I want to hurry home to you
put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
god I'm very, very frightening
and I'll overdo it'
Seriously The Nationals???? Oh well. Yeah not the best debut better pitch better next time. Hopefully that's a home game since he pitches great at Citizens Bank Park. :?
8/28/98- Camden, NJ
10/31/09- Philly
5/21/10- NYC
9/2/12- Philly, PA
7/19/13- Wrigley
10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
10/21/13- Philly, PA
10/22/13- Philly, PA
10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
4/28/16- Philly, PA
4/29/16- Philly, PA
5/1/16- NYC
5/2/16- NYC
9/2/18- Boston, MA
9/4/18- Boston, MA
9/14/22- Camden, NJ
9/7/24- Philly, PA
9/9/24- Philly, PA
Tres Mts.- 3/23/11- Philly. PA
Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
The main story on espn has him complaining the he was not used to the red shoes. Sounds like a real tough guy.
Red can be distracting...
I remember Cole complained one year when he had long sleeves on
what a misleading story if that is actually the case. guy was making a joke when he said that. sheez.
do you gentlemen think charlie should keep dom in the lineup today against a lefty? i would. its not like this guy is randy johnson. let the kid take his lumps.
and let's take the next 2 and get right back on track gentlemen.
do you gentlemen think charlie should keep dom in the lineup today against a lefty? i would. its not like this guy is randy johnson. let the kid take his lumps.
.[/size]
I don't think it matters. werth and francisco should play. ibanez or brown...eh, whatever. obviously it's more exciting to watch brown, but they need to win today. I'd probably go with the vet...ibanez has been decent over the last couple weeks
Nice game for Happ last night. I'll always root for that guy.
Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13; WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22; Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
heard the phils may have inquired about manny ramirez. that is charlie's boy
was out running errands. made the mistake of putting on 610 (which I never listen to). first 2 callers started going crazy about how phils should have kept happ instead of trading for oswalt. I changed channel immediately. philly fans are the worst
heard the phils may have inquired about manny ramirez. that is charlie's boy
was out running errands. made the mistake of putting on 610 (which I never listen to). first 2 callers started going crazy about how phils should have kept happ instead of trading for oswalt. I changed channel immediately. philly fans are the worst
It's incredible just how many idiots call that station. Still, the irony of Happ's excellent performance last night is delicious.
Spectrum 10/27/09; New Orleans JazzFest 5/1/10; Made in America 9/2/12; WF Center 10/21/13; WF Center 10/22/13; Baltimore 10/27/13; WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22; Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
Comments
Couldn't say it better. I agree with issues on one side more than the other so that is how I typically identify myself and it has changed quite a bit in the past few years.
I made a 50 dollar bet with someone back in June that Raul would be hitting .270 by the end of the season. :shh:
fixer bet me his car howard won't at .300 by the end of the season...
Oswalt trade proves that for Phillies, now is all that matters Story Highlights
The Phillies got Roy Oswalt from the Houston Astros in a trade Thursday
The Phillies large fan base and massive payroll demand constant success
Philadelphia has won the past three NL East titles and the last two NL pennants
The Beast requires constant feeding, and that is why Roy Oswalt is a Phillie today. Another organization sitting 2 1/2 games out of the wild card and 3 1/2 games out of first place could have passed on the expense, in dollars and prospects, that it took to add a pitcher about to turn 33 years old. But Philadelphia proved it is one of the three organizations in baseball that must feed The Beast. Only the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies operate with this mandate: World Series or bust.
Making the playoffs? That's fine for 27 other franchises. But the Yankees took on The Beast in 2000 and the Red Sox in 2008, and now Philadelphia has it.
Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. didn't fully want to acknowledge the mandate last winter when he foolishly dealt pitcher Cliff Lee in order to do something The Beast cares nothing about: "restock our farm system." It may have been smart baseball for 27 other teams, but not The Big Three. Winning today, not tomorrow, is all that counts. When Boston GM Theo Epstein, for instance, talked about a "bridge" season this year as the Sox waited for young players to develop, the fanatics of Red Sox Nation were ready to heave him off said bridge.
Seven months after trading Lee, Amaro got it. He traded pitcher J.A. Happ and two prospects for Oswalt, who will pitch only about 12 games for Philadelphia this year and is signed for next season. But Oswalt is about October, too, because Amaro knows Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels and Oswalt can get him back to the World Series -- not just into the National League Division Series or Championship Series -- if the Phillies get into the tournament.
To understand the transformation of Phillies baseball, you need only go back four seasons, to 2006. That year Philadelphia drew 2.7 million fans, ranking seventh among the 16 National League teams. They spent $88 million on payroll. And in their organization were pitchers Hamels, Happ, Brett Myers, Randy Wolf, Gavin Floyd, Gio Gonzalez, Kyle Kendrick, Carlos Carrasco, Matt Maloney, Josh Outman and Carlos Monasterios.
This year the Phillies rank first in the league in attendance, on pace to draw more than 3.6 million. Their payroll is $141 million. And Happ, Myers, Wolf, Floyd, Gonzalez, Carrasco, Maloney, Outman and Monasterios all are pitching elsewhere.
The Phillies fill Citizens Bank Park every night. Their local TV ratings, which are up 16.5 percent this year, are higher than every team except the Cardinals and Twins, who are regional draws. If you go by the average number of households watching the local team, the Phillies have more eyeballs on them than every team except the Mets and Yankees. Think Red Sox Nation is big? The Phillies' viewing audience is 41 percent bigger than the Red Sox's audience and 60 percent bigger than the Cubs' audience.
In just the past 12 months, the Phillies have traded for Halladay, Lee and Oswalt, traded Lee and handed Ryan Howard and Halladay contract extensions worth $185 million that will pay them huge money through their mid-30s.
Go to Citizens Bank Park and the fans are decked out in Phillies gear of all kinds. The team sells Charlie Manuel jerseys, for goodness sake.
Amaro had a choice when it came to what he provides these people: he could put 36 of his team's final 61 games in the hands of Happ, Kendrick and Joe Blanton, and hope not only that it was good enough to make up the deficit in the standings but also good enough to pitch the Phillies through two rounds of the playoffs. Or he could feed The Beast and go get Oswalt to team with Halladay and Hamels in what could be the best October rotation since the mid-90s Braves with Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine and John Smoltz. Really, there was no choice at all.
that I did. we never decided what I get when I win. A night of beers on the Jeagler will suffice
further proof that red sox fans are poseurs. god I hate them
put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
god I'm very, very frightening
and I'll overdo it'
Late to the party, bud. But, yes, sweet.
dont fuck wit a brooklyn peep when dey have da floor
idiot shouter learned dat da hard way
Sammi: Wanna just break up?
yeah, I'm really looking forward to watching the game tonight. gotta get 2 of 3 this weekend...and let's go reds
Maybe Dunn is out of the lineup and we sweep these dudes. And, yes, GO CINCY. Might have a chance of being in 1st place by Monday!
HAAAAAAAAAA
If I had the time and know-how, I'd get all arts & crafts up on that shit. Who am I kidding, I definitely got the time.
thanks for providing my current FB status
I am honored.
ah, enjoy. hanging with the mrs tonight.
bummer tonight...oswalt got tittied. hopefully the reds can pull off some back door action
come on offense.....can't win em all. lets take the next two.
GO. PHILS.
10/31/09- Philly
5/21/10- NYC
9/2/12- Philly, PA
7/19/13- Wrigley
10/19/13- Brooklyn, NY
10/21/13- Philly, PA
10/22/13- Philly, PA
10/27/13- Baltimore, MD
4/28/16- Philly, PA
4/29/16- Philly, PA
5/1/16- NYC
5/2/16- NYC
9/2/18- Boston, MA
9/4/18- Boston, MA
9/14/22- Camden, NJ
9/7/24- Philly, PA
9/9/24- Philly, PA
Eddie Vedder- 6/25/11- Philly, PA
RNDM- 3/9/16- Philly, PA
Red can be distracting...
I remember Cole complained one year when he had long sleeves on
The ONLY thing better than a glass of beer is tea with Miss McGill
A protuberance of flesh above the waistband of a tight pair of trousers
what a misleading story if that is actually the case. guy was making a joke when he said that. sheez.
do you gentlemen think charlie should keep dom in the lineup today against a lefty? i would. its not like this guy is randy johnson. let the kid take his lumps.
and let's take the next 2 and get right back on track gentlemen.
GO. PHILS.
I don't think it matters. werth and francisco should play. ibanez or brown...eh, whatever. obviously it's more exciting to watch brown, but they need to win today. I'd probably go with the vet...ibanez has been decent over the last couple weeks
WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16
was out running errands. made the mistake of putting on 610 (which I never listen to). first 2 callers started going crazy about how phils should have kept happ instead of trading for oswalt. I changed channel immediately. philly fans are the worst
It's incredible just how many idiots call that station. Still, the irony of Happ's excellent performance last night is delicious.
WF Center 4/28/16; WF Center 4/29/16; Fenway Park 8/7/16; Fenway Park 9/2/18; Asbury Park 9/18/21; Camden 9/14/22;
Las Vegas 5/16/24; Las Vegas 5/18/24; WF Center 9/7/24; WF Center 9/9/24; Baltimore Arena 9/12/24
Tres Mtns - TLA 3/23/11; EV - Tower Theatre 6/25/11; Temple of the Dog - Tower Theatre 11/5/16