2023 Phillies Regular Season Discussion

[BaseballCat]

Should have been on the wall long ago, but I am happy about this. Time to mend fences all sides - Scott, ownership and fans.

[bkox]

Kinda weird its not part of alumni weekend. I wonder if this is going to be a one and done thing.. like dont expect him to return for any functions in the following years

[andyb]

Middleton putting the former owner up there to set the precedent for him? I do get a little annoyed when all these Hall of Fames bend over backward for owners, execs, and managers at the expense of players. Long past time Rolen was honored though. Good player for a long time who really only wanted to win.

[BaseballCat]

Perhaps he had a commitment for that weekend? We may never know the reason. Press will probably ask.

[zambonir]

August 12 is still listed as Wall of Fame day on the schedule. Probably was just an availability issue for him. He already has to go to upstate NY a couple of weeks prior. Or maybe there are former teammates or coaches he doesn't want to see (kidding, though if Bowa isn't there in September maybe not!). Also possible Cincinnati plans to do something.

I don't think Middleton is being self-interested here but you can bet Monty and Giles are next. It's not taking away any spots from a player at least, whereas when they've done other non-players it sometimes has. (Gillick went in with Roy but Green and Harry and Charlie and Paul Owens all got their own years).

Honestly the real answer might be that the Phillies realized they could sell more tickets this way. If the team is still in the playoff race that will be moot, but if not, would help. And alumni weekend will do well regardless.

So do we think the retired number question is settled, or might that still be a surprise?

[BostonRoss]

John Quinn did help develop the Phillies into a contender (and can't really be blamed for the 1964 collapse). But he really has a mixed record, including presiding over the mistreatment of Dick Allen. After 1964, with the exception of the Steve Carlton trade at the end of his tenure, his record was abysmal, with the horrific Fergie Jenkins trade among many other poor ones, bad manager choices, and a team that would have been in the cellar five years in a row had the NL not expanded.

[andyb]

I think I'd vote for Ken Giles over Bill Giles. We get like the top 5% of players and the top 80% of owners.

[zambonir]

There's no way he doesn't get it though. This is a team that puts the names of owners nobody has heard of on the uniforms.

[julio]

Apparently, my name is “nobody.”

[zambonir]

You can name all of 'em off the top of your head? I can do Claire Betz but couldn't even tell you Middleton's father's name (until I looked).

[Philsmania]

I can't help but think that perhaps Ruly and his father Bob should be co-honored. The Carpenter family had its missteps--chief among them stubborny refusing to sign black players for so long which in addition to being morally wrong also sapped Whiz Kid era Phillies of their momentum while the Dodgers, Giants and Braves all loaded up on African-American talent and blew past the Phillies and, later, didn't have Dick Allen's back. But, truth be told, the Carpenter family ownership changed the trajectory of the Phillies franchise. Under the previous owners (Baker, later Nugent and then briefly Cox), the Phillies organization was simply not a credible Major League organization as it simply would not or could not compete for a penant or even field competitive teams. Ironically, the Connie Mack advocated on behalf of the Carpenters to NL owners but the Carpenters' reinvigoration of the Phillies would ultimately be a factor which doomed the Athletics in Philadelphia which would decisevily become a Phillies town leaving the A's derelict.

[julio]

The Buck cousins (generation after the original three brothers - Mahlon, Jim, and ?); Rochelle Levy (now deceased); Herbert Middleton (John’s dad); small pieces held by Giles, Monty, and (I think) Gillick. I may have forgotten someone, but that’s the basic picture

[andyb]

No Bryce in the lineup tonight. Must have some nagging injury as I can't imagine a planned day off in the Mets series AFTER an off day. Guthrie in LF.

[bkox]

small pieces held by Giles

Giles says at one point he owned 20%. So more than a small piece

At one point, Giles said Monday, he owned 20 percent of the club and called all the shots. He was pushed out by ownership partners in 1997 and in 1998 began selling off pieces of the team, “mainly because my salary went away,” he said.

No longer a team owner, Bill Giles still has Phillies opinions

[bkox]

Bryce Harper is just getting a day off, the Phillies say.

— Matt Gelb ( @MattGelb ) May 30, 2023

Planned day off for Bryce Harper, who started every game since returning on May 2. #Phillies wanted to give him back-to-back days with Monday’s off day.

— Scott Lauber ( @ScottLauber ) May 30, 2023

[andyb]

I just don't believe that. It's the Mets. National TV. After a day off. Yes he struggled a bit in the Braves series, but he still drew his walks and its a small sample. Hard for him to even pinch hit too before the 9th inning since he'd need a defensive sub.

[David_Criss]

Harper update, but no Covey news yet?

[andyb]

No transactions today so far, Figured they would at least get a reliever like Ortiz until Saturday when they need a starter.

[bkox]

Harper update, but no Covey news yet?

Appears Covey survives another day.

[Sabin]

Apparently, my name is “nobody.”

Well, at least you spelled it correctly. Not always a given with names 'round here.