Comments on: Buster Olney on 97.3 ESPN FM

By: philsgirl

philsgirl — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:42:08 +0000

Well, bullpen worries aside, I would have to agree with you about *any* manager being happy about having the talent and chemistry we have now, even if it could have been better.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:05:10 +0000

I think you’re reading too much into that interview, philsgirl….

That’s just Charlie’s style….to not always look directly at people. And ANY manager would have loved to have had that combination in his rotation.

I think Charlie is VERY happy with what he has right now.

By: philsgirl

philsgirl — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:44:18 +0000

Sorry, 5th place for Manuel. And definitely not taking anything away from Jim Tracy, who did a great job. A great manager makes teams better than expected, and that is who rightly gets voted for for manager of the year. I do see the Rockies as a force this year. And the Cards. And the Braves. It’s not that the loss was *solely* Charlie’s fault, but I just wasn’t around to participate in threads just after the series and I hadn’t seen anyone since mention some of his decision-making as a big factor in the loss, which I still think is significant. He’s been lucky to have the guys he’s had the past couple years, I’ll say that. Again, older news, but did anyone catch the segment on MLB network over the winter where they interviewed Ruben and Charlie regarding the Lee trade primarily, and you could cut the tension with a knife (neither would look at the other), part of me thinks Charlie was just peeved that he wouldn’t have Halladay/Lee and the Phils could essentially go on autopilot to the WS with a little less managerial manipulation needed where pitching is concerned (the bullpen is still our weakest link). But yeah, ’09 is old history and I think we’ve all gotten over it, just couldn’t resist when I saw Repeat!’s post.
Now, finally, up to read the latest from the rumor mill..

By: Repeat!

Repeat! — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:40:38 +0000

Tiresome?? Ha! Blanton was moved back and forth….Rockies… And what was Hamels’s showing Charlie?? Lee was rocked in the starts he had towards the end of the regular season… He basically tried himself out trying to make a good 1st impression…. How did he do in the playoffs?? No one sad Chuck was the only reason… But he is the manager… Also see 2007 playoffs… He bleeped up handling the pitching staff then as well… He can’t manage ptch staffs very well. 2008? He really didn’t have to do very much…..Everything was perfectly in place…. He also blew out Myers late in the season… That’s why the dec to trade Lee makes even less sense…

By: Bruce

Bruce — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:39:53 +0000

I wonder if “Bluster” Buster Olney is getting the idea of “internal discussions” from “unidentified sources”. ;-)

By: HotDogs

HotDogs — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 15:22:17 +0000

A lot went wrong in the series wich caused the phils to lose and its very difficult to get over considering we were two wins shy of a repeat. In game four when Damon gets a hit and we decide to put the shift on for texiera nobody decides to go to the mound and remind someone to cover third base if damon steals. It is absolutly inexcusable considering the yanks where out to the mound repeatedly. what hurts more is at the time hughes was warming up to pitch the ninth and in game five we lit him up. That decision is on charlie.

By: George

George — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:52:56 +0000

Repeat!’s comments are certainly tiresome, and he should KNOW the exact situation before he passes judgment. Happ was removed from the rotation because he’d shown NOTHING after his late season injury. Blanton did start in the post season. Lee may have been held back on the advice of Dubee. Several players had flu-like symptoms. The bullpen was a shambles, Hamels and Lidge stunk, and no one seemed to have scouted Matsui very well. The Phils lineup had usually worked, and one should ALWAYS go with what has worked, rather than risk taking batters out of their routines.

To blame the series loss solely on Manuel is completely unfair.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 12:55:45 +0000

Seriously….????…..we’re still pointing fingers about the loss to the Yankees in 2009???

And how about this one….

“I find it far from an accident that the manager of a team with three straight division wins and who have been to the series for the second year in a row makes it to only 6th place for NL Manager of the YEAR.”

First of all, Charlie finished FIFTH…..and Jim Tracy, who won the award, totally deserved it based on the fact that he took over mid-season and helped turn the Rockies around to get them to the playoffs. And look for those Rockies to be a SERIOUS factor again this season.

By: philsgirl

philsgirl — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 07:31:10 +0000

Hats off to Repeat! who has the brass tacks to point the finger where it belongs as far as the ’09 series loss; Charlie was apparantly alternately wigging out or sleeping in, in particular but not only with respect to pitching. Okay, no putting Lee in with 3 days’ rest; we’re saving his arm for the post-post season. Fine, don’t take Pedro out, although the close-up shots of him prior to the 6th showed a poster-child for pleading to be pulled. Charlie, it seems the guys love you but were you really directing or reading them right? I find it far from an accident that the manager of a team with three straight division wins and who have been to the series for the second year in a row makes it only to 6th place for NL Manager of the Year.
Would *love* to see Eyre back!

By: Bobby D

Bobby D — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 04:09:05 +0000

I agree with Don M, “insider discussions” are what those behind the scenes guys are paid
to do. If they’re not working like mad scientists in a secret lab full of bubbling beakers then I’m not happy with their performance.

There’s an article in the Daily News today about Eyre. He says he hasn’t ruled out coming back, has not “officially” retired, and he’d need about three weeks to be game ready because he’s been pitching BP to his kids…..maybe he’ll show
up in July with Pedro.

By: Manny

Manny — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 03:33:36 +0000

Eyre? DO IT!

By: JJFritz

JJFritz — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:22:46 +0000

You know, it was going to be rough to try to sign Howard long term. Forget it now!

By: Chuck

Chuck — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 02:05:47 +0000

I mentioned on the other thread, but in case it isn’t read there….Scott Eyre apparentely hasn’t ruled out pitching. Check out http://www.mlbtraderumors. Hmmmmm…….

By: Mazinman

Mazinman — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 01:42:21 +0000

Well, Olney is not really saying much. Amaro could have told Gillick “Hey, how about we trade Howard for Pujols” then both laugh and that would be, technically, internal discussions.

The only way this could be less likely is if Santa Claus was going to be bringing Pujols to town while riding the Easter Bunny. At least we get an interesting debate as to who is the better/most important player for a bit.

By: Don M

Don M — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:24:22 +0000

the “internal discussions” were the Phillies saying, if the Cardinals don’t sign Albert Pujols, what kind of package would it take to get him..

Ryan Howard + ??

and on Baseball Tonight.. they pretty much said that any team NOT having discussions about baseball’s best players, then those teams aren’t doing their jobs..

this is a non-story

By: Repeat!

Repeat! — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:54:29 +0000

…I like ponies….

By: Berkes

Berkes — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:27:01 +0000

olney is a tool, and exactly what’s wrong with the state of the media in 2010

By: Repeat!

Repeat! — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 23:07:01 +0000

go point… the deal will happen…. in our dreams only…

By: pheeling it

pheeling it — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:55:11 +0000

true. mayberry woulda loved the lights of new york, i still have faith in him. at least FO pulled the trigger on getting rid of everyone charlie couldnt let go. (stairs, bruntlett)

you know i thought the lineup was perfect with shane as a 2 hole, but we won it with werth there. maybe polanco and dropping victorino will give us 100 wins. this is the best team on paper i’ve ever seen in philadelphia. no doubt. buster olney loves to get our attention when spring training isn’t enough. come on april!

By: Repeat!

Repeat! — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:48:59 +0000

..the blame for /09 WS L goes to Charlie. end of story. taking out Happ/Blanton from rotation was nuts. Allowing Pedro to face Matsui in the 6th inn of Game 2;giving Pedro (perdo is still the man) that Game 6 start , leaving Ruiz at the bottom of the order, keeping a one legged Dobbs on the playoff roster over Cairo, no Mayberry(not sure if he was elgb) over Stairs, not changing lineup around…. etc, etc… Charlie has really gotten a free pass on his dec making in WS last yr. Joe Girardi was trying to give that series away with his own wacky moves…

I’m not bashing Howard. I love the dude. I really. But this deal (if of course the Cards brass are interested) would be the greatest trade in decades. How can anybody played up to a 250 million dollar deal. A-Rod finally got them a title(but how long did it take?) Howard bashes, but his toll of unprotective outs(ks) is mind boggling…. and in my op. is not worth 150 mill plus in a lefty heavy lineup.