Philadelphia, PA

“I am the great OZ, you dare to come to me for a playoff berth? You stumbling, bumbling, overpaid, money grubbing bunch of playoff missin’ whiffle ballers.” Our beloved team would indeed need the gracious Wizard to grant them heart, courage and some brains. What in the devil is this team all about? They’ve got the money they wanted. They have one of the best sports facilities in baseball. The fans come out in droves. They’ve rid themselves of what was felt by many as “Soft Players” like Abreu and Lieberthal. Many loyal fans look for reasons that point soley to ownership and the front office. “They’re stupid Millionares that have no clue about running a team. They care more about hiring friends of a friend than getting real baseball people to run the show.” All this maybe true but, would it help any if the players on the field performed up to at least contractural expectations?

There are worse ownerships as well as teams that pay what could be considered as minimum wages and guess what? Some of those teams excel and make the post season. Some of those teams rid themselves of high priced players then become winners. What do I think the problem with own Phillies is today and has been for the last few seasons? First of all it may help if they stopped paying players just because they’re afraid of losing them to free agency. Where is it written that a Chase Utley would decide he no longer wanted to be a Phillie? Is Ryan Howard counting the days until he can become a St Louis Cardinal? There is no way of knowing until that time comes but in the meantime we have to sit through another season of comical baseball. What would be wrong with, “Fella’s, we put a good team together. Go out and win something and we’ll give you the ATM pin, also, if you’re coming from a winners situation it will only make you more attractive if you decide to file for free agency.” Last season was one heck of a roller coaster ride if I ever saw one. They started bad, got better, became atrocious, cleanned house and for the last two months were the most exciting team we’ve had around here since 1993.

This season has been more of the same. Up down, up down, who was that team that looked like the so-called team to beat then turned into a Sunday School softball picnic team with no gloves while fathers and mothers help little jr. hold the bat while he or she swings, then showing them what direction to run if they make contact? Is this our Phillies? Yyyyyyyyyyyes. Ok, enough beating up my favorite team. with more than 100 games to go and more talent than we’ve had in years, I think they’re gonna right the ship and surprise all those Eagles fans in early October who root for a team that’s really only a few Alter boys better than our Church team because they DO make the post season with regularity but stab us in the heart with the same dull popcicle stick when all is said and done.