Short-sightedeness & Fans Doomed Amaro

Andy MacPhail and John Middleton held a press conference to announce that they would not extend Ruben Amaro’s contract. From the question and answer session of the conference two things seemed to doom Ruben’s fate: short-sightedness and the fans opinion.

Howard Eskin took the microphone and asked John Middleton:

How much of the public pressure to change the general manager went into this:

Middleton responded:

If the fans didn’t buy tickets and watch tv nobody in this room at this moment would have a job. They are critical to all sports organizations, including the Philadelphia Phillies..and what they think is important to us. That said, Howard, when you make a decision of this magnitude you have to make it for a host of reasons and there are a lot of reasons.

Eskin followed up with:

so fan pressure was part of that then?

Middleton’s response:

we were certainly aware of the fans feelings, absolutely

It’s nice to be heard. There was cause for concern, with the Eagles season starting, that fans would be distracted and the organization would take their silence as accepting of Amaro because of the deadline deals.

It’s nice not to be seen. Kudos to me (who didn’t use 3 tickets Monday) and the thousands of others who stayed away from the ballpark this week. They heard us, but they also saw record low crowds in attendance. Coincidence that they announce the move after the lowest-attended series in Citizen Bank Park history?

As Middleton and MacPhail talked in terms of Amaro’s replacement, it was apparent that they saw what we saw. They saw Ruben constantly trying to plug holes to stay competitive today without giving the proverbial rat’s ass about tomorrow. When the Phillies core of today simultaneously fell into rapid decline, he simply had too many holes to fill and not enough resources.

Ryan, I’m assuming Ryan Lawrence, asked Andy MacPhail:

what is the number one criteria that you look for in Ruben’s replacement? Does it have to be someone that has experience as a general manager? Does it have to be someone who has an analytical lean?

Middleton interjected:

I’ll tell you what I told Andy to do. He needs to hire himself.

Then he went on to talk about qualities that he’d like the next GM to have. He included:

…he has to embrace change. problems in five years are gonna be different from today. So if you hire someone today and all they…they’re a one trick pony and all they can do is fix today’s problems they’re not gonna be successful five years from now.

That was Ruben problem all along, short-sightedness. He worried about today and ignored the future.

Andy MacPhail confirmed as much when he answered Ryan’s question about Ruben’s successor:

They need to have a different horizon than the manager does. If your general manager is as focused on tomorrow’s game, or next week, or what happens in the sixth inning of tonight’s game, then you have two people doing the same job because that’s what the manager’s doing. The GM always has to have a horizon that’s a little bit wider…the consequences of what we do today what impact is that gonna have on me in a variety of different ways two or three years down the road. 

Maybe those sunglasses were blocked UV rays and visions of the future.

That sums up the press conference. The fans spoke. The Phillies ownership heard. Well, maybe just John Middleton, but that seems to be enough these days. The next Phillies GM will be able to see and plan for the future a little better.

That’s becoming a trend here in Phillies. Hinkie is all about assets for the future. Hextall is all about holding onto his drafted prospects for the future. Chip Kelly would rather trade Boykin for a future draft pick than lose him after this year with nothing in return.

Things are getting better here in Philly sports!

That reminds me of an old Tesla song.

Thanks for reading and sharing. E-A-G-L-E-S!