The Winter of My Discontent
Alright, so it’s not technically winter yet, but it will be in just a few days, so it’s close enough.
And what is the source of my discontent? Why, the fact that the Phillies traded Cliff Lee to the Mariners. I’m irked by the way this whole Halladay-for-prospects and prospects-for-Lee trade triangle between the Phillies, Blue Jays, and Mariners keeps getting labelled as a three-team trade (four, if you count the fact that the Jays then sent Michael Taylor to the A’s in another trade). Maybe if the Mariner’s prospects had gone to the Blue Jays it would be. But they didn’t. This was two separate trades, not one three-way trade!
So while I’m happy to have Roy Halladay, I’m perturbed that we had to give up Cliff Lee AND Kyle Drabek, Micheal Taylor, and Travis D’Arnaud.
In fact, Cliff Lee doesn’t sound so thrilled either. From phillies.com:
“At first I didn’t believe it,” Lee said. “I thought we were working out an extension with the Phillies. I thought I would spend the rest of my career there.”
In my opinion, this trade was not about restocking the farm system, and not about getting something for Lee before he becomes a free agent and goes looking for a Sabathia-like contract. No, it was about not wanting to spend an extra $9 million next season.
Even if Lee was only here for one more year, wouldn’t it have been great to have a rotation with Halladay, Lee, and Hamels at the top?
Last time I checked, it was still pitching that wins ballgames, not prospects.
Note to Ruben Amaro: I am not happy!!
Wait, let me say it louder:
I AM NOT HAPPY!!
I AM NOT HAPPY!!
I AM NOT HAPPY!!
Can you hear me now, Ruben?
Interesting Fact
Q: What do the Mariners, Blue Jays, and Phillies all have in common?
A: At one time or another, Pat Gillick was the GM. Coincidence, or something more? You be the judge.
If You Can’t Clone Them, Create Them
If only I’d perfected that plan to clone Cliff. We could have traded one, but kept a few others. *sigh*
But I have a new plan. According to an ad in my Sunday newspaper, I can create my own kids, for free!
I just need to figure out which combination of ice cream and mix-in would create a child with the ideal qualities – a combination of Halladay’s dominance, Lee’s work ethic, Hamels’ change-up, Victorino’s speed, Howard’s power (but without the tendency to strike out), and Utley’s postseason heroics. I’d need to get nine of them to fill out the lineup. But since it’s only valid for children 12 and under, I’d have to wait about 10 years or so for my plan to come to fruition. And if they’re made out of ice cream, they may be more suited to playing ice hockey than baseball.
Oh well, back to the drawing board.
Holiday, er, “Halliday” Shopping Update
I stopped in my local Modell’s this morning to look for a Christmas gift for one of my nephews. My timing turned out to be fortuitous – they were just opening up boxes of brand new Halladay t-shirts, so I snatched one. Hopefully my nephew doesn’t read this blog, or now he knows what he’s getting for Christmas :-).
But if any of you are bargain-hunting, the prices on the Cliff Lee t-shirts were slashed from $17.99 to a mere $10, due to the aforementioned trade.
Rants, Raves, and Random Thoughts 
You and me both….not happy. From one angle, I can see the panic about losing 7 top prospects in 6 months. But, could they not replenish those propects through the draft or other trades instead of dumping Lee? Prospects are no guarantee of a productive major league player – Lee is already established. I think this will come back to haunt them.
Jenn
http://philliesphollowers.mlblogs.com/
I hear you even if Ruben doesn’t! When I heard you guys were getting Halliday, I figured you would have the most overpowering 1-2 guys ever with him and Lee. So I was surprised too that Lee was dealt. But you’ll love Doc. He’s such a great pitcher. And be safe in all that snow!
– http://janeheller.mlblogs.com
Ice cream children…you probably couldn’t kiss them. That would be too bad.
But wouldn’t they charge MORE for the Lee shirts now that they’re a limited quantity?
So really, Sue, you are not happy? Hmmm!… 😉
And hey, you have winter snow to add to your discontent! I am probably the only one on the blogs who is giddy about the snow!… 😉
It is interesting that you could not (for whatever reason) hang on to both Lee and Halladay. We are wringing our hands/ going bald/ etc., about Jason Bay moving on. We understood that he wanted to test the FA market, and we’ll see how it ends up. Lee seemed startled that he was being traded, after reports were saying that he also wanted to test the FA market after 2010. I guess the lines got crossed somewhere. He needed a “no-trade” clause (as opposed to the Santa Clause…)! 😉
And Gillick? Yeah, it probably is just coincidence… 😉 Right…
Take care, Sue.
Jenn – I have yet to speak with ANY Phillies fans who are happy about this. If this does come back to bite them on the butt, can you imagine the outcry? It won’t be pretty.
Jane – Thankfully the snow wasn’t as bad in my neighborhood as it was in some areas, especially South Jersey and Delaware. As far as I’m concerned, though, any amount of snow is too much.
Caroline – Actually, they’d be really tasty kisses! As for the Lee shirts, they weren’t really limited in quantity, it looked like they’d gotten a LOT of them in anticipation of Christmas shopping.
Greg – I will happily ship my snow to you! Yeah, if Lee had a no-trade clause I’m sure he wouldn’t have agreed to go to Seattle. On the other hand, those clauses can be a pain when you really want to unload a player and he keeps nixing the deal.
Sue!
You are not happy!? imagine us Dodger fans! A bag a coal for us.
Stay safe in that snow! I like the idea of the free kids! sign me up! You reminded me that I’ve been carrying a $5 certificate from Cold Stone since …well forever! It did expire BUT it says “except in CA, HI, MA….”.
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com/
Emma – With that $5 certificate, you can get a free kid and some free ice cream. What a great combo! It’s a little chilly here to think of ice cream, but I’m sure it’s great ice cream weather where you are.
Hey, Sue, if you could’ve shipped your snow to me (since my neighbors don’t want it, either) ;), I GLADLY would have taken it! I’d even have paid your shipping!! 😉
Have a great and Merry Christmas, Sue. 🙂
Sue,
I thought at first glance to this trade that the Lee additon was just to satisfy Seattle.
You never know what was said to him by Philly as he went out the door.
I could see Philly leaving the door ajar and letting him know when they are in mid-July and deep in a pennant race, they might just toss a few guys the M’s way and see Lee back by playoff time.
Worst thing have happened.
Rays Renegade
http://raysrenegade.mlblogs.com
I’ll gladly take Roy Halladay if you are so unhappy 😀
I love Lee don’t get me wrong but Doc is better imo. Although I understand your confusion/frustrations
http://mimi.mlblogs.com
Greg – Thanks! A Merry Christmas to you too!
Renegade – I’m sure the Phils would love to have him, I think it was mostly a matter of freeing up some $$$. And the way the Mariners have been making moves so far, I’d be surprised if they weren’t in the midst of a pennant race as well. But I can always fantasize…
Mimi – Hi, and thanks for stopping by! Don’t get me wrong, I’m not unhappy with Halladay, I’m very glad we signed him. It’s just that I was feeling, well, greedy, and wanted to have BOTH of them. But yeah, the general consensus seems to be that Halladay is the better pitcher.
this was a good trade… it will all become clearer when the season gets underway…
Merry Christmas to you and your family, hope you have fun and enjoy…:-)
~peter
Outside the Phillies Looking In
http://devilabrit.mlblogs.com