Open Letter to Phillies Chairman Montgomery

Dear Chairman Montgomery,

For starters, I wish you well on your recovery and hope that you are 100% healthy!

I just wish you wouldn’t have addressed the Ruben Amaro situation. In a time when I’m struggling to put together my season tickets payment, I did not need or want to hear your ridiculous support of Amaro. Telling fans that Amaro will be under examination for the next year or two is infuriating.

Your quote of “The reality is that we have a GM that we think is effective,” is troubling. Effective at what? Taking a team that was the best in baseball and making it the worst in baseball? Understandably, you can’t keep a team at the top forever. However, you can do it like the Red Sox. They won the World Series in 2013, finished last in their division in 2014, and are now the 6th favorite to win the 2015 World Series. They are picked to win their division this year.  Ruben guided the Phillies to the best record in baseball, couldn’t build the depth needed to win the World Series, and has them on a descending trajectory for the fourth straight year. Vegas has them dead last in odds to win the World Series. That sounds like an effective GM?

You also stated, “If Pat (Gillick) spends an entire year or two close with Ruben, I think he’ll have a very good idea to how effective Ruben is and collectively a decision will be made.”

BobThumbsDownIs that really necessary at this point? If so, nobody has been paying attention. Report after report has come out that Amaro is not effective. Gammons says the organization under Amaro is outdated in many ways . GMs have told Buster Olney that Amaro over-prices his players. The reports go on and on from MLB insiders and reporters. We aren’t that stupid as fans. All those reports can’t be wrong.

We know that the Phillies Phanatic is the best mascot in baseball. If the Phanatic happened to get a new “best friend” and he was suddenly last in the mascot rankings three straight years, I’m pretty sure the Philies would find a new “best friend.” But, that doesn’t happen for the GM position, why?

If a manager took over the busiest beer kiosk at Citizens Bank Park and then turned that beer kiosk into the poorest performing at the Park (attendance being equal), I’m sure you’d get a new manager of that kiosk. But, that doesn’t happen for the GM position, why?

You can still pay Amaro and find us a new GM. I know you like being loyal to your friends for too long (Wade, Wheeler) and paying Ruben and finding the organization a new GM allows you to be loyal to Ruben and your customers. It’s about time you do the right thing for us as fans. It’s going on four years already.

And, if it’s ownership holding back Ruben because you won’t pay the chunk of the big salaries that need moving, shame on you. We sold that building out for years and generated TV ratings large enough for you to negotiate a billion dollar TV contract.

Do right by us, already. Please!

A frustrated and depressed Phillies fan,

VG