Phillies’ GM Ruben Amaro Has Staked His Entire Legacy on Lee Trade

Ruben Amaro must make an immediate, high-impact trade to salvage the Philadelphia Phillies’ underwhelming season and his own reputation as a general manager.   The off season trade of Cliff Lee has upset many fans, and the team he has assembled is floundering, currently slightly over the .500 mark.  Furthermore, Amaro’s attitude is not endearing fans.

After the announcement of Kendrick’s demotion, The Philadelphia Inquirer ‘s Matt Gelb’s posted this on his blog:

Ruben Amaro Jr. wore one of those patented smug looks on his face. The Phillies general manager had just demoted his fifth starter without listing a replacement in the rotation for him.  “I think we know exactly what we’re going to do,” Amaro said. “I just choose not to tell you.”

I highly doubt that the smug Amaro planned to start J.A. Happ and his 5.59 ERA on short rest, or that he was counting on someone getting hurt so he would be able to bring Kendrick back up in less than the required 15-day demotion period.   

So, Mr. Smug, since you knew exactly what you were going to do, what has happened since then?

Nonstop Lee banter has plagued the Phillies this entire season.  Lee became an instant fan favorite, putting together one of the most impressive playoff performances ever recorded.   Plus, I must wonder how the players in the clubhouse were rattled by this trade as well.   In trading Lee, Amaro told the fans and the players that even without Lee, the Phillies had enough to win with the rest of the pitching staff.

Right now, a number of sources are reporting that Amaro is aggressively pursuing a top-flight starter such as Roy Oswalt or Dan Haren.  But yet, Amaro continues to fight back whenever the name “Cliff Lee” comes up.

The Philadelphia Inquirer ‘s Phil Sheridan today wrote about a recent exchange in Chicago with some reporters:

“Given your intense trade-deadline pursuit of pitching…”

“Is this a Cliff Lee question?” the Phillies’ general manager asked, bristling at a reporter over the weekend in Chicago.

“As a matter of fact…”

“I’m done,” Amaro said, walking away from the visitors’ dugout and toward the solace of the batting cage at Wrigley Field.

The fact that he refuses to acknowledge that he may have made a mistake is what angers so many people.  

People would respect Amaro had he responded: “Listen, guys, at the time I really thought that even without Lee, we had the pitching that would win us a championship.  I was wrong about that.   However, I still have a great feeling that the guys we acquired in that trade will develop into something special, and I will do everything I can right now to bring our pitching staff up to the championship quality that you and I both have in mind.”

However, Amaro continues to make denials as his pitching staff falls part, exuding an “I’m better than you” attitude, making comments such as, “That is not the way you do business in baseball,” in reference to the need to acquire some prospects for Lee.   By the way, with Aumont 1-6, and with the other two pieces acquired in other leagues, the Phillies organization was rated the strongest at Class A of all 30 teams and they possess the No. 1 prospect in all of the minors.

Most importantly, the prospects would enable the Phillies to fill holes during the season should they arise.   Well, Ruben, it’s time to fill the holes.  If you fail to make the playoffs this year, you are done.   You will have lost your credibility with the city.

Oswalt or Haren will do it.  Anyone else?  You are done in Philadelphia.

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Relax! Pedro Martinez Is Not THE Answer

So, the reports say that Pedro Martinez has passed his physical and will sign with the Philadelphia Phillies.  Yet, many Phillies fans appear to be having a heart attack thinking that this will be the “big move” for the Phillies.   Relax, Pedro is your fifth starter.

Since Brett Myers went down for the year with an injury, the Phillies have used Antonio Bastardo and Rodrigo Lopez in his absence.   Bastardo had two nice starts before getting shelled.   Lopez has been decent in two starts, but he left his last start after five innings with a shoulder injury.

Should the Philadelphia Phillies just keep trotting out a revolving door of minor leaguers every five days?   Of course not – they must make a move.   This move is going to be Pedro Martinez.  

Why Pedro Martinez?  

There are three good reasons why this is a decent move for a contending team to fill a hole.

First, the cost is very low. 

And by low, I am not talking about the dollar amount.  To acquire a fifth starter at the expense of any marginal prospect can be a very expensive price to pay.  In this case, all the Phillies are giving up to acquire a starter is money.

Secondly, what is the worst that will happen if Martinez does not succeed?  

In the sixty-five games remaining, he will make 12 to 13 starts if all goes well.   If it does not go well, the Phillies still reach to their prospects or Rodrigo Lopez-type veterans to make starts anyway; the same kind of scrambling they are doing already.  There is no reason not to give him a shot.

Finally, Martinez’s main motivation for pitching for the Phillies is to stick it to the Mets.

Bitter that he was not given an opportunity this season, he longs to win the NL East for the rival Phillies.   

What more could a Phillies fan want?