At Least Mike Lieberthal Never Got Indicted

Yet Another Cigar Blows Up in a Certain GM's Face

THIS COULD have happened to only one general manager. Only one GM possesses the requisite baseball alchemy to spin gold into lead quite the was he has. Only the man who

• signed Jim Thome to a huge contract, then watched as his understudy blossomed into an MVP, thus necessitating a trade of Thome in which the GM had absolutely zero leverage
• traded for Kevin Millwood, then watched as the former 18-game winner disintegrated into a sweaty, out-of-shape whiner who wanted out almost as soon as he got here
• acquired steady clubhouse presence David Bell for several years, then watched as he sank into a funk of injury and limited mobility at third base
• rewarded Pat Burrell's one good season with a long-term, lucrative deal that handcuffed the team dreadfully when Burrell began flailing helplessly at every breaking pitch within 20 feet of home plate

could have traded for a former MVP to much funfare, then watched as the FBI announced he was under investigation for allegedly lying to authorities about steroids. Only one.

All we in Phillies City-State can say is: Astros Nation, we feel your pain. S|C

Comments

[John Salmon]

And yet, despite all that, the Phillies got better in the Wade era. Isn't that what counts? You can't dump on him for his mistakes and ignore the overall record.

[John]

You forgot that he passed over Jimmy Leyland so as to hire Charlie Manuel.

[Tom Durso]

John S.: Am I supposed to let facts stand in the way of a good story? :)

John: How could I have forgotten?

[Stan Chalmers]

check out www.ryanhoward.org - good for those Howard fans out there

[Chris Durso]

Hey, aren't you supposed to be Mr. Positivity-ness now?