- Angelo Catadi and Phillies manager Gabe Kapler had a classic debate on the WIP Morning Show yesterday morning. I'm glad Angelo stuck up for the fans, citing how boring analytical baseball is, while the day before team president Andy MacPhail all but blamed the fans for not attending those same boring games, his reasoning for maybe not signing a big-name free agent this off-season.
I'm a 6- game ticket holder and usually add more games during the season. I support the team and watch them on the road>I've even gone to Baltimore last summer and may travel to Pittsburgh next July for a weekend series.
After pointing to this free agent class of Harper, Machado and others for years, hoarding money all the way, now the Phillies organization is going to kick the can down the road and tell loyal fans, nope not in 2019 either..we will only sign marginal, one-year players.
So I'm happy that Angelo vented his frustration ( via fans like myself) and let Kapler know he and Klentak, MacPhail and possibly Middleton ( who is still silent) are out of touch with the common fan.
Hopefully next season Kapler will be more honest. Maybe some players need a kick in the ass to wake them up at times, as opposed to the constant praise? Stop coddling some of the prima donnas! Constructive criticism and admitting that the team needs to play better show the fans you care and you are listening and share their concerns. Then, the praise will be even more worthy and ring truer when the team really is playing good ball.
Until then, I would still like to hear from Middleton and find out what he thinks of analytics and other issues. Obviously, if begrudgingly, he agrees or else Klentak and crew would be gone. But I would like to still know that the owner will do whatever it takes to bring a championship to the Phillies and that the organization will be aggressive in trying to improve the club this off-season.
MacPhail raves about attendance being up this summer but not enough to pay a Harper or Machado. If you get one or both, wouldn't that entice more fans to come to Citizens Bank Park? Otherwise, you are continuing to field a mediocre, boring product, which fans won't pay to see, which means you'll never spend money on significant free agents.
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So it's the Yanks vs the Red Sox in another showdown, starting on Friday in Boston. New York can beat the Boston, and the only reason I'm going with Boston is because of the home field advantage.
Meanwhile, in the other American League series, I like the Indians to upset the defending champion Astros. The A's and even Mariners for a while, gave Houston a challenge in AL West this summer, while Cleveland coasted in AL Central.
In the National League, I think the more-experienced Dodgers will out-last the young Braves, but I wouldn't be surprised if Atlanta pulled an upset. The Brewers beat the cubs-in Wrigley Field- to win the NL Central. Now they face the wild card Colorado Rockies, who lost in LA against the Dodgers for the West crown, but also defeated Chicago a tWrigley in the wild card game. ( How about the Cubbies losing two must-win games a home?).
I like Milwaukee to advance in a tough series.
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The Flyers open their season tonight with a late game in Vegas against the defending Western Conference champion Golden Knights. They play the Avalanche on Saturday night before they play their home opener next week. The Flyers always seem to get off to a slow start. let's hope they get out of the gate fast this season and make the other teams catch them this time around.
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