Re: Gillick introduced as Phillies' new GM PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- The losingest franchise in pro sports will have a proven winner in charge. Pat Gillick, whose resume includes two World Series championships and nine playoff appearances, signed a three-year contract to become the Philadelphia Phillies' new general manager. He replaces Ed Wade, fired after failing to get the team into the playoffs in eight years on the job. ``His record of success is outstanding and I believe that Pat is the right person to lead our baseball operations,'' Phillies president David Montgomery said Wednesday. ``I'm very excited that he has decided to join us, and I look forward to working with him.'' Gillick is joining an organization that has lost more games (8,831) than any U.S. pro team and hasn't been to the playoffs since 1993. Then, the Phillies lost the World Series to Gillick's Toronto Blue Jays. ``I'm very honored to be a part of the Phillies, an outstanding franchise,'' Gillick said. ``We need to get over the hump and I look forward to that exciting challenge. I still have the passion and the competitive edge for the game and I think this is a very good situation.'' Ready to take charge of his fourth major league team, the 68-year-old Gillick was chosen over former Houston Astros general manager Gerry Hunsicker, Phillies assistant general managers Ruben Amaro Jr. and Mike Arbuckle, and Cleveland Indians assistant general manager Chris Antonetti. A special consultant in the Mariners' front office the past two seasons, Gillick led Toronto to consecutive championships in 1992-93. He also was general manager with Baltimore and Seattle. Philadelphia went 88-74 this season and finished one game behind NL wild-card winner Houston. It was the Phillies' third consecutive winning season and fourth in five years, but they missed the playoffs for the 12th straight year and 21st time in 22 seasons. Long considered one of the best executives in baseball, Gillick helped his teams compile a record of 2,010-1,773 in his 24 seasons as a general manager. Gillick won five AL East titles in Toronto and led the Orioles to the AL championship series in 1996 and '97. He also took the Mariners to the ALCS in 2000 and 2001. Seattle tied a major league record with 116 wins in 2001, and the Mariners' 393 victories during Gillick's four seasons were the most in baseball. ``Pat has accomplished a great deal in three situations,'' Phillies president David Montgomery said after he interviewed Gillick last Friday. Montgomery fired Wade one week after the season ended under heavy pressure from a fan base that soured on the Phillies in just their second season at Citizens Bank Park. Wade was heavily criticized in Philadelphia, especially after he fired manager Larry Bowa and hired Charlie Manuel. Even though the Phillies were in the playoff race the entire season, attendance dropped off by almost 600,000, down from 3.25 million in 2004. Once given the flexibility to increase payroll, Wade brought in Jim Thome, Kevin Millwood, Billy Wagner and Jon Lieber. Millwood was a bust in two seasons, Wagner is a free agent and Thome is on the trading block. However, young stars Chase Utley and Ryan Howard emerged under Wade's watch. Gillick started his front-office career in 1963 with the Astros, spending 10 years there. He joined the New York Yankees in 1974 as coordinator of player development. In 1976, he joined the expansion Blue Jays, handling all baseball-related activities. He went to Baltimore in 1996 and took over in Seattle in 2000. Gillick has a difficult task in Philadelphia, even though the Phillies came close to reaching the playoffs. The team has nearly $78 million committed to 11 players for next year, and Montgomery already said the payroll will stay around $95 million. A tough decision must be made at first base involving Thome and Howard. Thome is owed at least $43.5 million over the next three seasons and the Phillies probably will have to pay some of his salary to make a trade. If Wagner doesn't return, the Phillies will have to replace the All-Star closer. Gillick comes to the Phillies in time to attend the annual general managers' meetings, scheduled for Indian Wells, Calif., from Nov. 7-11.
Re: Gillick introduced as Phillies' new GM hoorayyy, maybe this is the spark needed to light the philly fire
Re: Gillick introduced as Phillies' new GM This leaves the Dodgers job wide open... I would be surprised if Epstein went there (I think that the Dodgers would be retarded to do that... if the Moneyball approach doesn't work the first time, it won't work the second).
