The IronPigs are hosting the annual winter caravan for the Phillies in the Lehigh Valley. The card announcing it arrived in today's mail.I saw a friend today who was still bummed out about the Cliff Lee trade. There was nothing to say really as it's done and he's gone. She lamented that players just move around these days. I said that I'd felt bad for Lee because he's now been traded three times, despite having been stellar in his short stint with the Phillies. He and his family seemed to take to the city as much as the city took to him. At least he gets to go to a team that has a good chance to contend and to a great ballpark, my fave in the American League.
It was interesting to read print accounts this morning of yesterday's Halladay presser. When Halladay said "we", he meant it. His family was very much part of the decision. His nine-year-old son Braden last week was printing out the Phillies' roster and memorizing it. His wife Brandy was quoted as saying, "We've got money. We want a ring." When reporters pointed out that Halladay would be wearing Lee's former number, she countered that the number belonged to them, that it should have been theirs this summer.
While I was driving home this afternoon, I heard assistant-GM Scott Proefrock being interviewed about the trade on Philly radio. At the end he said he could understand fan ambivalence because his own wife and kids were upset that Cliff Lee was gone.
Thanks again, Jim Thome, for coming to Philadelphia in 2004. Lots of things have contributed to making the town a destination for players, not the least of which is Citizens Bank Park. There's no better place to watch baseball in all of the majors. But Jim Thome's coming to play was a pivotal point in the fortunes of the team. So of course was the heady influx of homegrown players the ilk of Jimmy Rollins, Pat Burrell, Chase Utley, Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard, and on and on. Still it's nothing short of a stunning turnaround that the best right-handed pitcher in baseball would waive his no-trade clause and agree to an extension at less than market value to come play in Philadelphia. Even better, he and his wife seem to be totally genuine.
