To the Management and Front Office of the Philadelphia Phillies:

First of all, thank you and congratulations! You did it. The Philadelphia Phillies are World [expletive] Champions, and you, not the "gold standard" Eagles or the spend-crazy-to-get-close-but-not-close-enough Flyers or the lightning in a bottle 76ers, but you, the Phillies, broke the 25 year drought and brought a World Series (and the world's greatest three day party) home to Philadelphia. Credit should be spread around the entire organization. The players and their amazing individual and team efforts, of course, deserve accolades. But so, too, does the management and front office, to whom this 'letter' is addressed. To start, former general manger and current Houston GM Ed Wade had a large part in building this roster, both while he was GM in Philly, and after he left. Remember it was Wade who dealt the Phillies the final piece to the World Series puzzle when he sent All-Star closer Brad Lidge, along with utiity player extraordinaire Eric Bruntlett, to Philadelphia for the speedster who can not hit Michael Bourn and above-average right-handed reliever Geoff Geary. Recently retired GM Pat Gillick deserves credit for taking this team from the bubble of contention and turning them into World [expletive] Champions. Despite such signings as Freddy Garcia, Adam Eaton, So Taguchi, Wes Helms and Rod Barajas, Gillick brought in a lot of players without whom there would be no consecutive NL East titles, let alone a World Series Championship. The aforementioned Lidge is the first player that comes to mind. Gillick also brought us Jamie Moyer, Jayson Werth, Gold Glover Shane Victorino, Joe Blanton. And think back to last season. Do the Fightins get their first taste of playoff baseball in 14 years without the additions of Tadahito Iguchi and Kyle Lohse?
Assistant general manger of scouting and player development, Mike Arbucke, also deserves credit for building the World [expletive] Champions. Arbuckle and his staff scouted the young core of this team and acquired, through the draft, such players as NLCS and World Series Most Valulable Player Cole Hamels, 2006 NL MVP and 2008 NL MVP candidate Ryan Howard, 2007 NL MVP and gold glover Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Pat Burrell, Carlos Ruiz, Brett Myers and the suddenly flame-throwing set-up man Ryan Madson. In many analysts' eyes Arbuckle is the man most responsible for building this championship roster, and was more deserving of and qualified for the general manager position, which ultimately went to Reuben Amaro, Jr., which lead to Arbuckle's resignation earlier this week.
Of course, the now beloved manager Charlie Manuel is the man that motivates these players to perform at the highest level every day, and is the coach that brought Philadelphia its championship. The team wants to play hard for Charlie, they like him. But Manuel still has the respect in the clubhouse to be able to bench the reigning NL MVP and not lose his players. The rest of the coaching staff deserves credit as well, especially first base coach Davey Lopes. Our ground game is a big part of what got the Phillies to the World Series, and Lopes, almost single handedly, turned young speedsters into smart, talented base runners capable of sending opposing defenses into fits.
Once again, thank you and congratulations. You have released the Philadelphia fans from the torture chamber that was 25 years (over 100 collective seasons) without a World [expletive] Championship. But now the spotlight is on you. Brighter even. Remember that this is Philadelphia. Philly fans will not become complacent, nor will they accept complacency from the organization. After years of heartbreak, disappointment, underachieving and just plain losing, we have the taste of a title. And in case you didn't notice, we enjoyed it. We, the fans, enjoyed it so much, in fact, that we want to win it all, as Cole Hamels said, "year, after year, after year".
The fans have done their part. A new Citizens Bank Park and organization attendance record was set in 2008. Then, even more people showed up for the playoffs. We paid the ridiculous parking prices (the Sunday of game 4 of the World Series in which the Eagles also hosted the Falcons at the Linc, parking ran around $40). We bought every piece of NL East, NL and World Series merchandise the team and league could produce. Season ticket sales are bound to increase, as are ticket prices. Now please, do not see this as a complaint. I will pay $100 to park in the Jetro lot if it meant a shot at the World Series every year. I'm simply asking (politely demanding) the Philadelphia Phillies' front office to DO SOMETHING WITH THIS MONEY! I'm not encouraging the Phils to go on a New York-esque spending spree and disrupt the chemistry of this talented, young team. But there are holes. Despite winning the World Series, plenty of areas could use improvement. I'm not going to make an actual wish list as I did with the Eagles because, after all, you are the World [expletive] Champions. You must have some idea of what you are doing. But the holes are obvious. More contact hitters are a must. When the sluggers are hot the Phillies have the best offense in baseball. But when the home runs dry up, and the weather gets colder, the Phillies need players who can hit .300+ and simply put the ball in play (players who make productive outs and do not strike out much). A third outfielder is another area of need. Comcast Sportsnet just reported Reuben Amaro has stated the Phillies will not be re-signing Pat Burrell while the team has exclusive negotiating rights, which basically means unless nobody offers Burrell, averaging 31 homers and 99 RBI over the past four seasons, a big bag of money, he will be leaving Philadelphia. If Burrell is not re-signed Geoff Jenkins is not a suitable third outfielder (Werth would move to left field, Jenkins would take over in right). Trading for Matt Holiday or signing a free agent who can pick up Burrell's production are musts. Potential trade bait includes Carlos Carrasco, the Phills' prized pitching prospect that Pat Gillick has assessed will never be more than a number three starter. If Carrasco is not the stud he was drafted to be, he has to be moved while he still has value. Another top of the rotation starter is not a need, but it would make the team even better. Coming into 2009 with Hamels, Myers, Moyer, Blanton and Happ, Philadelphia has a formidable rotation. But drop A.J. Burnett into that rotation (either to replace a retired or un-re-signed Moyer or bump Happ back into the bullpen) and Philadelphia has the best rotation in the National League. If Burrell is not re-signed or replaced the Phillies will be even more dependent on pitching. Which brings me to the final position of need, the bullpen. Yes, the bullpen was the best in the bigs in 2008, and yes, it seems that Madson and Lidge are as capable of holding down the 8th and 9th innings as any tandem in the league, but through 162 games plus the playoffs a bullpen needs options. It became quite apparent that Chad Durbin lost his arm at the end of 2008 and after being as consistent a reliever as any team could ask for, Durbin could not be trusted in close games in September or through the playoffs. Oft-injured and sometimes effective Tom Gordon is gone. More bullpen help is needed if this team is to repeat. Durbin, Romero, Madson and Lidge cannot be the only relievers through another 176 games.
Yes, I realize the streets of Philadelphia are still showing the signs of hosting the world's greatest victory party, and the abbreviated game 5 which clinched the title was only played one week ago, but, as the self-anointed voice of millions of proud Philadelphia fans, I must once again stress that complacency is unacceptable. But luckily, you have the benefit of the doubt from the fans because you won a title, so if the team falls on its face while attempting to stay on top (example: signing A.J. Burnett to a huge contract which he never lives up to), the fans will understand. You have the city now. Please keep us. I do not want to go crawling back to the Eagles.
Once again, thank you and congratulations. I still have trouble believing it, but the Philadelphia Phillies are WORLD FUCKING CHAMPIONS.