PHILLY SPORTS CORNER

So, the Phillies find themselves in a tough spot, this time off the diamond.

On Saturday, August 12, the Phils are scheduled to honor Pete Rose, inducting him into the team's Wall of Fame. The entire weekend is devoted to Rose, from his bobble head being given away on Friday night, to all sorts of alumni flying into Philadelphia for  a big time on Saturday and Sunday.

There's one problem: Rose was alleged yesterday to having sex with a minor while he played for the Reds around 1973-75. Rose claims the girl was 16 at the time- he was 34 and married. She "thinks" she was more like 14, which would constitute statutory rape charges.

Rose's best friend commented that he used to help Rose pick up young girls as old as 12-14 years old when he played for Cincinnati.

Either way, it's sickening. One has to think, what if that were my daughter? Consensual or not, someone that young is only a child, and that's against the law.

So, while the rumors swirl and Rose is scrambling to answer these allegations, the Phillies' organization is left to wonder, what to do about the Wall of fame ceremony?

Even though Rose has admitted to having sex with this girl ( she would be around 57 now), he hasn't been found guilty in a court of law.

Canceling the event now would mean, what to do with all the bobble heads? What about all the hard work and planning- from the plaque to thevvideo tributes, to the guests attending the ceremony, to the fans who paid money to specifically see Rose on August 12, what about that?

But if the Phillies decide to go ahead with the event, that it happened more than 55 years ago, and Rose deserves praise for helping the 1980 Phillies win their very first world championship, if they choose to proceed with all the pomp and circumstance and cheers for Rose, they better also expect the worst.

Even more embarrassing than an inductee getting roundly booed by his "home" city, what if there are protests outside the park? Think of the media circus that night. Sure, it's PR for the Phillies, but is it the kind of publicity the organization wants or needs?

It would be so simple just to cancel and not have a Wall of Fame inductee this summer. I think the fans would understand. Many probably agree that it's not a good idea to honor a man who may be a pedophile

My feeling is that the Phillies will go ahead with the ceremony. They don't want to lose the gate, almost assuredly a sell-out now. Everyone will go to witness the spectacle, what Rose may or may not say, the media circus that will evolve.

I liked Pete Rose the player; I dislike Pete Rose the man, even before this. There was always something smarmy about the guy, even before it was confirmed that Rose was caught gambling, most likely on baseball.

The lone time I  briefly met Rose- at Brandywine Racetrack of all places, and he gave me an autograph, he was nice to me. But that doesn't make what he did right.

Sure, everyone makes mistakes, and Rose would be wise to plead for mercy form the public. If O.J. can walk free from prison this October, Rose could get away with this latest piece of garbage to litter his sordid life.

So, I'm not sure if I like the idea that I have tickets for August 12. I assume it will be a hot item now, especially if the ceremony goes on as planned.

So, we have something to talk about, other than Eagles training camp, for the next 11 days. It should be interesting to see what happens.

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I don't praise GM Matt Klentak for his trade deadline deals this week, as has most of the soft Philly media that continues to kiss his ass. Any dope can trade away washed-up veterans for marginal minor leaguers. OK, at least Kentak got something for nothing. But he stated yesterday that the reason for the great return he received for his trade baits was because his 1-year wonders "played really well."

Do ya' think oft-injured Howie Kendrick played that well? What about busts like Michael Saunders Jeremy Hellickson and Jaquin Benoit?

Pat Neshek had an all-star first half of the season, and yet the club got back lottery tickets form Colorado- low-A ball players who may or may not progress.

Why did Seattle get a below-average reliever ( compared to the year Neshek was having) and yet trade away their best overall prospect?

Did Klentak get fleeced again We really won't know for a few years.

The real test for Klentak will be in the off-season when he needs to address the logjam at first base involving Tommy Joseph(who, after a rough April,has had a solid year overall, whereas Rhys Hoskins at triple-A continues to mash the ball with 24 homers.

The outfield situation is crowded too. And what about the potential situation of the steady Cesar Hernandez butting heads with the exciting newcomer Scott Kingery?

All questions to be addressed after October. Meanwhile, I'll get excited when it's the Phillies who again are buyers at the July 31 st trade deadline, picking up a Sonny Gray or a Yu Darvish to bolster the starting staff now and beyond.. Then Klentak , MacPhail and Middleton will really show me something.