I don't even think they will win 70 games, Rollins and Sandberg will hate each other by the end of the season and Ruben will be fired. Its going to be a tumultuous season.

The only good will be they will hit rock bottom and start to build again.
- PhillySportsGuy

How can they start to build again when they are tied into the money they are with Howard, Utley, and Rollins. The worst position you can be in with a team is to have a mediocre team with a high payroll.
That World Series team was built on the nucleus of drafted players. And then a hall of fame GM in Gillick made the final key moves. Who do they have down in the farm that is the future. How good is Asche going to be? Can D Brown get better?

A perfect example of that is the Phillies. They recently won a World Series. Went to another one, and went on a nice 5 year run or so. Now here we are a few years removed. And Phillies fans are already frustrated and losing patience with the team.
- MJL

Not really, I haven't lost patience with the Phils, I just wish they'd realize that their window shut after the 2012 season and they really need to rebuild. Instead they just keep holding on to the Utleys, Howards and worst of all, Rollins of the world.

If the Flyers had won the cup in 2010, I don't think most Flyers fans would feel the frustration and/or desperation of wanting them to win another one.

And on another note, as was said by someone earlier, that '87 team may have been the hardest working team in Flyers history, and that is saying something. With Tim Kerr out, they managed to take a team with 8 or 9 hall of famers to game 7 and that was no small accomplishment. I mean good lord, Edmonton had Gretzky and Messier as a 1-2 punch up the middle and the best the Flyers could counter was a combo of Eklund, Poulin and Ron Sutter! Ron Hextall, for that series, and really that entire playoff run, was on a level that very few NHL goalies reach. In my lifetime, they may well have been the best team to never win a cup.

Im surprised they still have them on the board.
- PhillySportsGuy

LOL
I'm not sure the Sixers could beat Villanova right now, let alone any other NBA team.

Sandberg might kill Jimmy by April.....forget the end of the season.
- johndewar

im really not that upset by that.

I was born on May 31, 1983. That is the day the Sixers won the NBA championship. So never in my lifetime had I seen a Philadelphia championship (of the 4 majors). Since the Phillies gave me 2008, I will give every member of that team a lifetime pass. Rollins, Utley, and Howard can go a combined 0-for-lifetime from here on out and, while I won't be happy, I'm okay with it.

They may be declining, but because those 3 were the cornerstones of the team in 2008, I want them to all retire as lifetime Phillies. I'm sure it's a fairly unpopular opinion, and isn't rational from a business standpoint, but that's how I feel.
- jmatchett383

Imagine being a Bostonian. The team with the longest Championship drought up there is the Patriots.

How can they start to build again when they are tied into the money they are with Howard, Utley, and Rollins. The worst position you can be in with a team is to have a mediocre team with a high payroll.
That World Series team was built on the nucleus of drafted players. And then a hall of fame GM in Gillick made the final key moves. Who do they have down in the farm that is the future. How good is Asche going to be? Can D Brown get better?
- MJL

The Phillies should channel the 1975 Philadelphia Flyers and just start every game with a bench-clearing brawl.

Not really, I haven't lost patience with the Phils, I just wish they'd realize that their window shut after the 2012 season and they really need to rebuild. Instead they just keep holding on to the Utleys, Howards and worst of all, Rollins of the world.



- BiggE

They were in a tough spot. They had all those sell outs going making a boat load of money. I don't think the fans would have accepted walking away from those 3 players and moving on.

That run the Phillies had was magical.

Better not lose at Indiana tonight. Regardless of tank job, losing streaks like this are embarrassing, and show lack of compete, and competence. It's never good to be a laughing stock in any walk of life.
- PLindbergh31

Stand up comic?

They may be declining, but because those 3 were the cornerstones of the team in 2008, I want them to all retire as lifetime Phillies. I'm sure it's a fairly unpopular opinion, and isn't rational from a business standpoint, but that's how I feel.
- jmatchett383

Here's the thing with those 3.....

If you replace them, you have to have a credible replacement.

The fact that they can't replace those guys (especially Rollins) is a testament to how bad the farm system is for that team.

Imagine being a Bostonian. The team with the longest Championship drought up there is the Patriots.
- PLindbergh31

I'm happy as a Philly sports team fan. I love my teams.

Rewarding teams for incompetence, is ridiculous.
- PLindbergh31

And teams like Pittsburgh and Chicago have multiple Stanley Cups because of this ridiculousness.

The Phillies should channel the 1975 Philadelphia Flyers and just start every game with a bench-clearing brawl.
- jmatchett383

It's probably why the added Matt Stairs to the broadcast booth.

You never know when a press box melee is gonna hit.

Here's the thing with those 3.....

If you replace them, you have to have a credible replacement.

The fact that they can't replace those guys (especially Rollins) is a testament to how bad the farm system is for that team.
- johndewar

They have Freddie "Steroids" Galvis to replace him. Apparently, he can play either 2B or SS.

Which means that, by season's end, they'll be "converting" him to RF.

My view is that they would have to have so many things break their way. Starting with the fountain of youth being discovered at Citizens Bank park. The top bats in the lineup are all well past their prime. Can Utley, and Rollins reinvent themselves. Can Ryan Howard get back to being a run producer and learn how to hit a curve ball or a slider from a lefty? Having a pitcher set back in Spring training like Hamels has, is rarely a good thing. How about the bull pen. Lots of question marks with this team.
- MJL

IF absolutely everything, and I mean everything, went right for the Phils, and that means that Howard stays healthy and hits 40 homers with 125 RBIs, Utley starts 140+ games and hits .300 with 25 homers, Marlon Byrd has a career year, Cliff Lee wins the Cy Young, Hamels returns by late April and wins at least 17 games, etc...

If all that happens, sure they have a shot at a title. Don't hold your breath though...

Stand up comic?
- mayorofangrytown

Unknown comic.

Stand up comic?
- mayorofangrytown

Carrot Top

I don't even think they will win 70 games, Rollins and Sandberg will hate each other by the end of the season and Ruben will be fired. Its going to be a tumultuous season.

The only good will be they will hit rock bottom and start to build again.
- PhillySportsGuy

Would be an excellent first step on the road to a real rebuild!

IF absolutely everything, and I mean everything, went right for the Phils, and that means that Howard stays healthy and hits 40 homers with 125 RBIs, Utley starts 140+ games and hits .300 with 25 homers, Marlon Byrd has a career year, Cliff Lee wins the Cy Young, Hamels returns by late April and wins at least 17 games, etc...

If all that happens, sure they have a shot at a title. Don't hold your breath though...
- BiggE

Your Phightin' Iphs!

IF absolutely everything, and I mean everything, went right for the Phils, and that means that Howard stays healthy and hits 40 homers with 125 RBIs, Utley starts 140+ games and hits .300 with 25 homers, Marlon Byrd has a career year, Cliff Lee wins the Cy Young, Hamels returns by late April and wins at least 17 games, etc...

If all that happens, sure they have a shot at a title. Don't hold your breath though...
- BiggE

John Mayberry Jr. would still ruin it somehow.

IF absolutely everything, and I mean everything, went right for the Phils, and that means that Howard stays healthy and hits 40 homers with 125 RBIs, Utley starts 140+ games and hits .300 with 25 homers, Marlon Byrd has a career year, Cliff Lee wins the Cy Young, Hamels returns by late April and wins at least 17 games, etc...

If all that happens, sure they have a shot at a title. Don't hold your breath though...
- BiggE

Exactly my thoughts. And I think I have a better chance of hitting the lottery.

It's probably why the added Matt Stairs to the broadcast booth.

You never know when a press box melee is gonna hit.
- johndewar

haha thats why they got rid of wheels. wasnt scaring anybody.

Imagine being a Bostonian. The team with the longest Championship drought up there is the Patriots.
- PLindbergh31

John Mayberry Jr. would still ruin it somehow.
- jmatchett383

I'm happy as a Philly sports team fan. I love my teams.
- MJL

I bet you were all amped up when Bednarik laid out Gifford.

Unknown comic.
- PLindbergh31

bizarre. i just mentioned this guy yesterday.