Been in the Dakotas [beautiful land and scenery] for a week and have been digesting and contemplating the many moves the Phils have been making over the past month and a couple of days with interest and I still believe the Phils missed a golden opportunity [different than a blown opportunity, they didn't blow it, they missed out in my mind] when they allowed first Machado, and then Hamels to slip from their grasp at the late July deadlines and are likely to miss the playoffs as a result.
It is my opinion that had they the wherewithal to bring in these two players, all the other moves...throwing gum on a wall and wondering which ones stick..would not have needed to be made and the Cabreras, Bours, Bautistas and the lefty relievers brought in would have been unnecessary. And I believe making those two moves would have at worst brought them a division title and at best a World Series berth.
Machado was almost the perfect addition...a guy that is a true superstar and precisely the same age [26] as most of the Phillie players he might have bonded with during these crucial August/Sept playoff deciding months. He would have solidified the infield, allowing Kingery to move back to 2nd where he belongs, and been that wonderful middle of the order hitter the Phils seem to have trouble locating.
I understand I am in a distinct minority here, but I would have bit the bullet and dealt Sanchez for MM, he is not only that good, but I have a real skepticism about hurlers making it intact from A ball to the starting rotation on a big league club. Sanchez's arm woes this year speak loudly to my skepticism. Yes, he may someday become a second coming of Pedro Martinez. Perhaps. But I think he has an equal chance of becoming another Tyler Green, a can't miss top of the line hurler who somehow did miss.
Hamels was practically begging the Phils to bring him in and even with his reduced effectiveness this season before coming to the Cubs, this seemed like a move likely to help the Phils. One, he is a lefty, and in Philadelphia a lefty starter is harder to find than Gene Mauch's name on the Phillie Wall of Fame. Two, he would have brought tons of playoff credibility to a team rotation that well have benefited from it...not to mention the benefits of a six man rotation. Three, he loves and understands Philadelphia and how much winning speaks to the psyche of the Phillie phan.
One thing lacking this year is that playoff passion with the phans and I suspect its that nagging doubt in the phans minds that the leadership truly believes in this team. I know I feel this doubt, Bringing in Machado and Hamels would have answered that doubt in a big way.
I am not in Philadelphia but as a Phillie phan I admit I feel somewhat cheated by Matt K and Co. There are so few opportunities to win in sport and I believe that opportunity was there this season and Matt K whiffed in not trying harder to get Manny and Cole. They were there for the taking, and no, Manny's agent had nothing to do with his coming to LA, not one bit. He is an East Coast guy, loves the East Coast and would have loved Philadelphia. And the city would have loved him. As they do Cole.
I get that many still believe the Phils will sign Manny in the off season and Hamels may well end his career in Philadelphia. Perhaps. But I think the Phils lacked the vision and decisiveness that marks true winners and its not surprising to me that the guys the Phils could have had ended up in LA and Chicago, two teams that seem to have that vision and decisiveness.
Like I said, I understand my view is a minority one and I am not saying the Phils blew it in either case. I simply believe the Phils didn't truly understand how close they were to a potential title and how incredibly exciting Manny and Cole would have made September with their presence.
