It started just days after the 2007 National League Division Series.
The Philadelphia Phillies were knocked out of the post season in three speedy games last season. General Manager Pat Gillick went right to work. The biggest issue haunting the Phillies was the lack of pitching, both in the rotation and the bullpen. With pitching at a premium in Major League Baseball, and teams wasting money on lack luster stars, the Philadelphia organization knew their options were limited.
Pat got creative.
Instead of wasting money on Johan Santana or Tom Glavine or Carlos Silva, the Philly G.M. went in a most unconventional direction. He traded center field prospect Michael Bourn and bull pen pitcher Geoff Gery to Houston for Astros closer Brad Lidge. The move was two fold. First, it gave Philly a legitimate closer, and moved current closer Brett Myres back into the starting rotation where he had been most successful. The trade resulted in Philly gaining a closer and indirectly gaining a high quality starter too.
When April rolled around the pitching moved to the back burner while the offense exploded. Pat Burrell and Chase Utley carried the team early in the season, while Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins picked up the slack in August and September. All season long the Phillies epitomized timely hitting.
With contributions from all 25 players on the roster, key trades, (including the addition of starter Joe Blanton from Oakland) tremendous timing, and a city dieing for a winner, the Philadelphia Phillies put together a magical season. The Phillies surpassed the wildcard Milwaukee Brewers, defeated Joe Torre and Manny Ramirez in five games, and now find themselves in St Petersburg Florida for the 2008 World Series.
927 miles south of Philly it began over ten years ago.
When the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays joined the American League in 1998, they quickly became the laughing stock of the all of baseball. They had tried everything in the first nine years. Acquiring former greats like Wade Boggs and Fred McGriff in an attempt to build a winning team.
Old Veterans didn’t work.
They brought in Sweet Lou Piniella, one of baseball’s most famous and successful managers. After two losing seasons Lou skipped town, clueless on how to fix the organizations troubles.
Lou didn’t work.
The front office began blasting music on the public address system and began promoting the fan favorite “cowbell”, in an attempt to create “false noise” in an empty Tropicana Dome. Desperate to create buzz and attendance the Rays averaged 12,000 a game.
The buzz didn’t work.
Then this season, second year manager Joe Maddon came into spring training starting a slogan of “nine equals eight” among his players and staff. The slogan has lead most everyone to ask, “What the hell is nine equals eight”?
As the season went on we all learned that nine equals eight refers to nine players, playing hard for nine innings, resulting in the acquisition of one of the eight-playoff spots in the post season.
Joe Maddon’s coaching worked.
In the late hours of May 13th this year the laughing stock of the American League ceased to exist. That night the Rays moved into first place for the first time ever that late into any season. The Rays haven’t let up a day since. Ten years of scouting finally developed a core of tremendously gifted baseball players. Finishing the regular season in first place in the most competitive division in baseball, the Rays are champions of the American League.
Now today the World Series begins.
I am pulling for the Phillies, my official B-team behind the Yankees. However I think the Rays will win in six. It is sure to be one of the most exciting, well-played World Series in years. It’s a shame too, because all signs point to the lowest ratings since 2000.
The Philadelphia Phillies were knocked out of the post season in three speedy games last season. General Manager Pat Gillick went right to work. The biggest issue haunting the Phillies was the lack of pitching, both in the rotation and the bullpen. With pitching at a premium in Major League Baseball, and teams wasting money on lack luster stars, the Philadelphia organization knew their options were limited.
Pat got creative.
Instead of wasting money on Johan Santana or Tom Glavine or Carlos Silva, the Philly G.M. went in a most unconventional direction. He traded center field prospect Michael Bourn and bull pen pitcher Geoff Gery to Houston for Astros closer Brad Lidge. The move was two fold. First, it gave Philly a legitimate closer, and moved current closer Brett Myres back into the starting rotation where he had been most successful. The trade resulted in Philly gaining a closer and indirectly gaining a high quality starter too.
When April rolled around the pitching moved to the back burner while the offense exploded. Pat Burrell and Chase Utley carried the team early in the season, while Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins picked up the slack in August and September. All season long the Phillies epitomized timely hitting.
With contributions from all 25 players on the roster, key trades, (including the addition of starter Joe Blanton from Oakland) tremendous timing, and a city dieing for a winner, the Philadelphia Phillies put together a magical season. The Phillies surpassed the wildcard Milwaukee Brewers, defeated Joe Torre and Manny Ramirez in five games, and now find themselves in St Petersburg Florida for the 2008 World Series.
927 miles south of Philly it began over ten years ago.
When the expansion Tampa Bay Devil Rays joined the American League in 1998, they quickly became the laughing stock of the all of baseball. They had tried everything in the first nine years. Acquiring former greats like Wade Boggs and Fred McGriff in an attempt to build a winning team.
Old Veterans didn’t work.
They brought in Sweet Lou Piniella, one of baseball’s most famous and successful managers. After two losing seasons Lou skipped town, clueless on how to fix the organizations troubles.
Lou didn’t work.
The front office began blasting music on the public address system and began promoting the fan favorite “cowbell”, in an attempt to create “false noise” in an empty Tropicana Dome. Desperate to create buzz and attendance the Rays averaged 12,000 a game.
The buzz didn’t work.
Then this season, second year manager Joe Maddon came into spring training starting a slogan of “nine equals eight” among his players and staff. The slogan has lead most everyone to ask, “What the hell is nine equals eight”?
As the season went on we all learned that nine equals eight refers to nine players, playing hard for nine innings, resulting in the acquisition of one of the eight-playoff spots in the post season.
Joe Maddon’s coaching worked.
In the late hours of May 13th this year the laughing stock of the American League ceased to exist. That night the Rays moved into first place for the first time ever that late into any season. The Rays haven’t let up a day since. Ten years of scouting finally developed a core of tremendously gifted baseball players. Finishing the regular season in first place in the most competitive division in baseball, the Rays are champions of the American League.
Now today the World Series begins.
I am pulling for the Phillies, my official B-team behind the Yankees. However I think the Rays will win in six. It is sure to be one of the most exciting, well-played World Series in years. It’s a shame too, because all signs point to the lowest ratings since 2000.
