The Phillies are going to Sundin Utley, aren't they?
- hereticpride

Ha! Well, it's not that bad. For what it's worth -- and it should mean a lot, still -- Utley's a World Series champion with Philadelphia, with another Series appearance.

Sundin, as great as he was, never even played in a Cup final.

can we just bring the A's back to Philly and send the Phillies to Oakland
- vejim

Come onnnnnnnnn Ruben. DO SOMETHING!

I wouldn't give the Red Sox too much credit for what they've done today, TBH. You let Jacoby Ellsbury walk, watch your offense -- especially your outfield production -- go straight into the tank, then you don't sign Jon Lester in the offseason or spring training, so you can trade him...for outfield offense.

See, to me, that's poor asset management. Because of course, you don't have to sign Ellsbury, and he doesn't have to sign with you. But you can't not replace the production, be surprised when you struggle to score runs, then realize that you don't have your ace signed AND you're in last place.

They have won multiple World Series, so yes, they get every bit of grace that comes with that. But they have not handled last offseason and this season very well, with respect to asset management.
- AllInForFlyers

That's the key sentence right there. They have won 3 Championships in the last decade. When that's the case, the fan base is going to be patient and accept some bad years. Hell a bunch of people here defend the Flyers at every turn, and they haven't won squat in 40 years.

can we just bring the A's back to Philly and send the Phillies to Oakland
- vejim

BOBBY SHANTZ!1!!

Come onnnnnnnnn Ruben. DO SOMETHING!
- PhillySportsGuy

Fiddling while South Philly burns.

Come onnnnnnnnn Ruben. DO SOMETHING!
- PhillySportsGuy

No because he thinks this team can win

Fiddling while South Philly burns.
- johndewar

but at least Ryan Howard has a new mansion in Fla

Fiddling while South Philly burns.
- johndewar

- PhillySportsGuy

Peter O'Toole was a legend, if only, for this scene:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7z-M92N4L8

Peter O'Toole was a legend, if only, for this scene:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7z-M92N4L8
- johndewar

- mayorofangrytown

Hey, nobody can take away what Richards and Carter have done -- those boys have done some winnin'

- mayorofangrytown

That's a nice Calder Cup ring.

- mayorofangrytown

This is a really (frank)ing cool picture. Richie has won everywhere he can. Incredible.

This is a really (frank)ing cool picture. Richie has won everywhere he can. Incredible.
- Giroux_Is_God

That looks to be Carter's haul, with the Sochi deal. Of course, Richards got his Olympic gold first

That looks to be Carter's haul, with the Sochi deal. Of course, Richards got his Olympic gold first
- AllInForFlyers

Ah yes I just noticed the Sochi medal.

Even so...like you said. Both those guys have won everywhere they can. Incredible.

EDIT: Everywhere but one, I think...Carter never won a Memorial Cup right?

Jayson Stark ‏@jaysonst 3m
Now hearing #Yankees are out on Marlon Byrd. #Phillies could be out of places to send him

Ah yes I just noticed the Sochi medal.

Even so...like you said. Both those guys have won everywhere they can. Incredible.
- Giroux_Is_God

Carter just doesn't perform well in big games

Hey, nobody can take away what Richards and Carter have done -- those boys have done some winnin'
- AllInForFlyers

Not to take anything away from either of them, but it helps to be on good teams. LA has been staffed to win... the Olympics are a given with stacked talent...

Again, not taking anything away, but they've both been fortunate to play on the talented teams they have.

Carter just doesn't perform well in big games
- PhillySportsGuy

Ha! Nobody's ever seen me type that, or say it -- I'd joke about the "High and Wide Breakout," but really, that dude, from the WJC back in the day to last year's playoffs, generally finds a way to put pucks in the net

Carter just doesn't perform well in big games
- PhillySportsGuy

He can without a broken foot!

Richards has him though, right?

Richie has a WJC, a U18, Stanley Cup, Olympic Gold, Memorial Cup, and Calder Cup? Not sure on Richie's U18 though

Ha! Nobody's ever seen me type that, or say it -- I'd joke about the "High and Wide Breakout," but really, that dude, from the WJC back in the day to last year's playoffs, generally finds a way to put pucks in the net
- AllInForFlyers

He was injured a lot and wasn't assertive enough with the Flyers. He got much better with experience

Not to take anything away from either of them, but it helps to be on good teams. LA has been staffed to win... the Olympics are a given with stacked talent...

Again, not taking anything away, but they've both been fortunate to play on the talented teams they have.
- WarriorHockey21

Absolutely, that helps. Neither one should be the best player on the team if you expect to win it all, even in their primes -- though, to be fair, when they were in their primes with the Flyers, they were pretty damn close.

But clearly, when they are healthy, you can win with them, fairly consistently and fairly easily. I do think Richards' decline will be swift and brutal, but that being said, he's still won at every level you can.

He was injured a lot and wasn't assertive enough with the Flyers. He got much better with experience
- PhillySportsGuy

And I'll add this: When Jeff Carter gets hot, there are very few players in the world who can score goals as rapidly as he does.

That 45-goal season, for about 25 games, IIRC, he was as hot as anybody not named "Gretzky" or "Hull" or "Ovechkin" as I'd seen in awhile