Phillies Phans: What are your hopes for this season?

[Marcus Garvey]

Personally, I'm hoping for a 78-80 win season. I'd like to see Charlie Manuel fired. He never should have been hired in the first place, and anyways, he "recommended" himself for the position. Remember, he was hired by the organization as a "consultant" or whatever to work with Thome. With Thome off to the White Sox, Manuel serves no purpose except to take blame.

The farm system needs to be rebuilt, but I think most Phils fans know this. Fortunately, it's not the wasteland it was in the mid to late 80's, so it shouldn't be too hard.

Best case scenario: Phils finish 78-84. Montgomery steps down as General Partner and CEO and they let Gillick run the show. Manuel is fired. I'm hoping that Reuben Amaro Jr. can learn from Gillick and eventually become as great a GM as Pat.

Any thoughts?

[Ivytalk]

I may be a bit more optimistic. I see another winning season (83-79) without a playoff berth. Gillick's off-season moves or lack of moves -- particularly Gordon as closer -- haven't impressed me for the most part, except I liked the Rowand deal. Manuel is a dolt, and you're right about the farm system, which was great not too long ago. But the new season is upon us, and hope springs eternal!

[SunCoastBlueHen]

I think the Phillies have the potential to score a lot of runs this season, and with a starting rotation of Lieber, Myers, Lidle, Franklin, and either Madson or Floyd - they will have to score a lot of runs. Couple that rotation with the absence of a solid closer, pitching looks to be a huge problem for the Phils. I think a .500 season would be a reasonable expectation.

[griz37]

I never really understood how fans of a team can hope that they fail, just so the manager or coach will get fired.

[Marcus Garvey]

I never really understood how fans of a team can hope that they fail, just so the manager or coach will get fired.

Ommlettes and Eggs partner. The Phillies need some serious retooling, but the powers that be are slow in recognizing it. A losing season with the resulting drop in attendance is usually the only thing that causes the owners to come up with a long-term solution. If I had a choice betwen a pennant this year (and possible WS win) or a long term winner who will be competitive over the course of 10-15 years, I'll take the long-term winner any day of the week! Being a Phillies fan, I've seen the 5 bad seasons, 1 good, 5 bad seasons scenario and it blows!

If fans show up, why the hell should and ownership invest the time and money to model their organization after the Braves or A's? "F$@% IT!" they're saying. The fans still show up in droves.

In defense of Gillick's decisions, he didn't have much to choose from among relievers. I agree that they overpaid for Gordan, but they weren't going to do much better. In retrospect however, if they were going to overpay for him, shouldn't they have just given Wagner that 4-year deal he wanted?(incidently, I don't think Billy has more than 3 years left in his arm).

[LeopardFan04]

I tend to agree with IvyTalk...the Phils will get close again, but no playoffs...I think there definitely needs to be a shuffle in management...

[blukeys]

Manuel is a dolt,

Yes after hearing him give interviews, I began yearning for the good old days of that genius Danny Ozark!

[ngineer]

I'm always an optimist in the Spring. I see some nice young arms (like Meyers) and believe that THIS will be the year he wins 20.. Alas, unlikely, but I do see them winning more than losing and unless the pitching does alot better than they have, it will be more of the same and an 85-88 win season. I agree they should score a lot of runs and defense should be very good. But pitching is 75% IMO.

[MR. CHICKEN]

ONCE EVERAH-ONE....HAS VISITED DUH NEW PARK...(WHICH HAS PRETTY MUCH HAPPENED).......ONLY WINNIN'......WILL PUT PAYIN' CUSTOMERS.....IN DUH SEATS......PHILLIE PHANS ARE PASSIONATE........NOT LIKE LAID BACK...LA-LA LANDERS................WE WANT WINNERS.....WON'T ACCEPT ANYTHIN' LESS!......:nono:......BRAWK!

[Marcus Garvey]

ONCE EVERAH-ONE....HAS VISITED DUH NEW PARK...(WHICH HAS PRETTY MUCH HAPPENED).......ONLY WINNIN'......WILL PUT PAYIN' CUSTOMERS.....IN DUH SEATS......PHILLIE PHANS ARE PASSIONATE........NOT LIKE LAID BACK...LA-LA LANDERS................WE WANT WINNERS.....WON'T ACCEPT ANYTHIN' LESS!......:nono:......BRAWK!

Count me as a Phillies fan who hasn't visited the new Park. I've been back East only once since it opened, and that was over Christmas '04. Once my fiance is done with school and her job settles down, I want to take a trip to Pittsburgh and Philly and check out both new ballparks. So many people are ranking PNC Park the best of the new ones.

[ISUMatt]

I hope Philly sucks and Aaron Rowand is traded back to Chicago for prospects before the trade deadline

[TheValleyRaider]

National League...
:boring: xcoffeex :p ;)

[MR. CHICKEN]

National League...
:boring: xcoffeex :p ;)

AMERICAN LEAGUE.......: giveadam.............AWK!

[MR. CHICKEN]

xsmoochx

[ngineer]

I hope Philly sucks and Aaron Rowand is traded back to Chicago for prospects before the trade deadline

THAT is the one good deal I think the Phillies made.:D

[Go...gate]

I see the Phitin's at about 85-77 and they will have a shot in a difficult NL East. Bravos still the team to beat, I pick them for about 88-74. Mets hurt themselves by trading Benson, probably no better than 82-83 wins. Marlins and Nationals will win 65-75 games tops and will not be serious contenders.

[Pards Rule]

I guess I'm just happy I well remember the only World Series win...may not see it again in my lifetime!

[Ivytalk]

I guess I'm just happy I well remember the only World Series win...may not see it again in my lifetime!


Right on, Pards! I attended game 2 of the '80 Series personally and watched all the others.:rotateh:

[ngineer]

Right on, Pards! I attended game 2 of the '80 Series personally and watched all the others.:rotateh:

Had to watch all the '80 Series games on TV--my wife was 'due' any minute with our daughter (who took her good ol' time arriving on Halloween!). Did get to attend a couple of the NCLS and World Series in '93. That was a fun team. It would take another bunch of 'over-achievers' who combined a few career years in one season.