Tire Kickers ….
Posted: July 25, 2010 Filed under: Dailies | Tags: Arizona, ASG, Astros, Cardinals, CBP, Chicago, Colorado, Comcast, Cubs, David Akers, drivelous, Eagles, Florida, Gary Matthews, GM's, Houston, JA Happ, Joe Kerrigan, Nationals, Philadelphia, phillies, Rockies, Sarge, sCrUBs, St. Louis, Tire Kickers, Trade, Trade Deadline, Ubaldo Jimenez, Washington 11 Comments
Anyone
who has participated as an exhibitor at a trade show of some kind will be all to
familiar with ‘Tire Kickers’, although not specific to
trade shows, since it’s origin is from used car lots, it is where we have seen the most concentration
at
any given event over the years. I am sure, some will disagree and claim they have seen
more together in one place somewhere else. In the grand scheme of things, the fact that ‘Tire Kickers’ exist
everywhere is enough.
This time of year baseball has it’s own brand of ‘Tire Kickers’,
the front office people for some clubs transform into these at this time of
year. All the ranting and raving as fans will change none of
that, yes we are all armchair GM’s at some time and we all know what
is best for the teams we help through the season by cheering for them relentlessly
regardless of how they actually perform.
Not every team’s front office can legitimately transform, the Phillies
front office has transformed and can on occasion be seen ‘Kicking Tires’ in
places like Houston, Arizona, Pittsburgh, Washington, and rumor has it even
Florida.
The Phillies of recent years have done relatively well by
‘Kicking Tires’ till the deadline makes them transform back to actual decision
makers, lets hope this year is Werth the wait. There are those Phillie fans who
think some players are Werth keeping, regardless of performance or contribution,
I think this year the Phillies should make a stab at a good starting pitcher to
assist the teams continued run at post season and if the offer a Werth-while
everyday player then so be it.
In an effort to curb some disdain by the fair weather booing fans, or just to
show they are action minded, they decided Milt Thompson should join the over
crowded list of unemployed in this country. In just the few days since this
occurred the ever drivelous incoherent commentator booth add on of Gary ‘Sarge’
Matthews has pointed out pertinent hitting features for players that apparently
weren’t there two or three days ago, after weeks of telling us what they were
doing wrong at the plate, yet insists he doesn’t want another hitting coaches
job. If you’ve been watching the Phillies for a number of years now you’ll all
remember similar style of added information from non other than Joe Kerrigan
when he was on the Comcast post game show, right before he weaseled his way into
the pitching coach job for Bowa.
Since I’ve missed a few days or more, the Phillies, after the
ASG break have….
….given 3 out of 4 to the sCrUBs and given 3 out of 4 to the
Cards, while on the road, back at home they currently have won the first 2 of a
4 game set against the Rockies with game 3 being played today at CBP. They actually
managed to knock Ubaldo Jimenez out of the game in 2 plus innings, but
today is another day and it all starts again, especially for JA Happ who is back
with the club, his last start was in April and has been on the DL, rehabbing and
just plain getting back into the swing of things.
Just a Thought:
If a player can have specific balls put into the game when
it’s his at bat, what stops teams from rotating balls in and out for home team
hitters and away hitters. I know a ball is a ball is a ball, but if the Rockies
can process their balls to reduce flight, why can’t teams do that for visiting
teams and process for increased flight for home hitters. I know many will
dismiss this as just another conspiracy with no substance, but isn’t anything
possible in this day and age, and won’t teams grab every advantage they can fair
or foul…. the big prize seems to cloud the judgment of people in and around
sports, no matter what the sport.
Phillies Outside Archive Vault 
Fans can rant and rave all they want but we do not have the ear of the GM. I guess that’s why he is GM and we are not. What is a fan’s contribution to the game anyway? I guess it’s just to sit back and cheer on the home team. So it goes! Barb
My team doesn’t just kick the tires; it buys the lemon too. So the Phils made Milt a sacrificial lamb? That’s just Amaro putting a shot across the bow. It was a pro-active move. I’ll say that much about it. What the hell are we going to do about the Braves?!
mike
http://thebrooklyntrolleyblogger.mlblogs.com/
Mike’s right and it does sound like Milt was the sacrificial lamb. When they can’t fire the manager, they find somebody else who’s fire-able, just to shake things up.
– http://janeheller.mlblogs.com
Barb – The beauty of being a Fan, is there is no recourse, no public ridicule when you make the wrong choice of player…..
Mike – The braves I think we will bring down hell fire and brim stone on Georgia and pray the braves are playing at home… alternatively let them hit a slump and take advantage of it…
Jane – I often wonder if Milt was to the Phillies coaching staff like Token is to the kids of South Park
-peter
I can’t explain the joy felt when seeing you write “sCrUBS”. Bravo, Peter. BRAVO!
–Jeff
http://redstatebluestate.mlblogs.com/
http://mtrredstatebluestate.com
Peter,
Is this the “humidor” conspiracy?
I heard an urban legend a few years ago that Colorado puts their balls in humidors to reduce the humidity within the core of the ball to make it less likely to sail out of Coors Field.
Every team has their own way of doing the game balls, but the MLB Umpiring crew has the final say on if those balls willbe used or disregarded. I know with the Rays, there is one guy who job is to see to it that the Umpire’s Room is stocked and ready to go with their gear and other commodities.
But he lso is responsible for rubbing about 12 dozen balls down a night with Mississippi Mud, or whatever the name is of the mud product used to take the sheen off the new baseballs.
I guess even the Phillies might have their own slight variation to this process…..Maybe a little Pat or Geno’s grease in the mud vat?
Rays Renegade
http://raysrenegade.mlblogs.com
I wonder how much doctoring balls really adds to a noticable diference? gaylord perry certainly did it and was in the hall of fame!
http://pittpeas.mlblogs.com
Jeff – Seeing it written enough times, I guess you end up using it….. and where else could I have seen it written like that…
RR – I know the Phillies have their own process which is true I believe for all clubs, I wonder how many balls get rejected by umpires though?….
Matt – They outlawed picking at a ball with your finger nail in England for the game of cricket, I know growing up you could make a ball move all sorts of ways with the right nick or scruff on a ball… which is why i guess they throw out the balls that hit the dirt now…
-peter
Love the sCrUBS…lol Yeah, that was a miserably pathetic road trip. Sweeping the Rockies, I hope, will be the cure to this season!
Jenn
http://philliesphollowers.mlblogs.com/
Peter,
The beauty of being a fan is that they can’t trade us!
.
Peter said: “why can’t teams do that for visiting teams and process for increased flight for home hitters.”
.
WHAT? Pitchers would say “That is an idea not Werth pursuing. ”
Emma
http://crzblue.mlblogs.com
Jenn – A cure maybe, but they need to keep going to season end….
Emma – I think pitchers will take any advantage they can get… some anyway….
-peter