Amazing what winning can do for a city and a franchise. After years of trading away players and being mired in last place, the Phillies built a winning corps that culminated in a World Series championship. And, the franchise has continued to seek a second party on Broad with this group.
You, in turn, have made Citizens Bank Park the best bandbox in baseball to the tune of 269 consecutive sellouts.
The Phillies rewarded your continued support at the gates by handing Cole Hamels, the ace of a staff of aces moving forward, with a reported six-year, $144 million contract extension.
Go back to the days of Schilling and Rolen. Did you ever think you’ see this?
That is — about $95 million committed to four players for 2013 — Hamels, Howard, Lee, Halladay.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 25, 2012
Without your continuing to flood the ballpark, this doesn’t happen. The Marlins spent money this year and had a new ballpark and yet we see this:
You can always have good baseball reasons to make a trade. But MIA have reaffirmed what every cynical South Fla. baseball fan believed.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 25, 2012
$140 million can buy tons of these cool outfits.
The Marlins are purging their roster as evidenced the last two days, including sending enigmatic Hanley Ramirez to the Dodgers. They had to do it partly because the team is losing, but also because fans aren’t filling the seats in Miami.
Of course, the Phillies will need to trim payroll somewhere to pay for Cole and upgrade the bullpen and third base next year. So don’t be surprised to see Hunter Pence dealt. Still, this is a great day, Philly. We kept our own homegrown star when he would have been a free agent in his prime. When is the last time that has happened in this city?
