PHILLIES PHODDER

* After much thought, I think the Phillies should cancel the upcoming Pete Rose Wall of Fame ceremony.

The recent bombshell charges of Charley Hustle having sex with a minor back in the 70s isn't allegations. Rose admitted to having sex with the girl,w ho he "thought was 16" ( Rose was around 34 at the time, married with two kids).  Rose was a great player, and helped to lead the 1980 Phillies to their first world championship in their long history. As I wrote yesterday here, I liked Rose the player but dislike Rose the man, even before this news.

The Phillies should say, screw the bobble heads. They should give refunds to tickets purchased for the August 12th game, if fans want their money back. The organization should not put themselves into an awkward position of defending a pedophile.

There are bound to be protesters at the game that night. There are bound to be embarrassing boos during the ceremony. Even some of the players, who may be friends' of Rose, but perhaps knew of Roses' lust for young girls, may not want to be put in the uncomfortable position of praising Rose on the field that night, of lauding what a wonderful guy he is, and basically being hypocrites.

I have tickets for August 12. I got the tickets last November, before the Wall of Fame inductee was announced.

It would've been a cool event to see. but not now. I can't in all good conscious, cheer for a guy who pried upon teenage girls as young as 12-years-old.

The Phillies should be done with Pete Rose, once and for all. He will defend himself and try to get back into the forgiving graces of Baseball and the public. That's his problem. Phillie fans and the Phillies' organization don't need the drama, the bad PR, all the cameras and circus that will occur on August 12.

Nice to have a rare sell-out, but do the Phillies really need the sell-out that bad, as to put there good name in jeopardy?  How can anyone "honor" a guy, who admitted to gambling on baseball, but far worse, being a morally-bad scumbag?

Would I go to the game if the Phillies proceed with the ceremony? yes. The tickets were expensive and may be a hot ticket down the road. It would be interesting to see and hear the reaction of the Philly fans, and to hear what Rose says about the entire sordid affair.

The Phillies' organization could take that uneasy decision out of our hands by simply saying that Pete Rose Night has been cancelled.

* The Phils lost last night in LA, 7-1 to the Angels, breaking their 5-game winning streak.

Seeing Mike Trout play, a rare event since Anaheim plays late night games, is awesome and makes me want him on the Phillies. Imagine it- a local guy, the face of the franchise. He would still only be 28- in his prime- if the Phillies waited until he is a free agent after the 2020 season.

Would the Angels trade him before that? Maybe, if Trout stated that he would test free agency down the road.Give up whatever it takes to bring perhaps the greatest player in baseball back home.