A second opinion

The Phillies didn’t announce the MRI results for Freddy Garcia’s right shoulder until the top of the ninth last night, so that left more than a few of the scribes and Phillies’ personnel scrambling for answers over what “pathology in the labrum” and a frayed rotator cuff really means.

I sat next to a former Major League manager at last night’s game and when the news was announced, I just looked at him:

“That’s not good,” he understated.

Garcia wants to investigate all of his options before deciding on a course of action, but more than likely seeking a second opinion upon hearing Dr. Michael Ciccotti’s prognosis simply delays the inevitable…

Freddy can either get cut now or he can get cut later.

Nevertheless, Garcia has the option of the second opinion. The Phillies do not. Instead, Pat Gillick and Ruben Amaro Jr. will be scrambling to find a long-term fix for the rotation with some pathology. Certainly Brett Myers doesn’t seem to be headed back to the rotation when his stint on the disabled list ends, and asking Kyle Kendrick – the pitcher called up from Double-A to make his Major League debut in Garcia’s stead tomorrow – to fill the veteran’s spot is a tall task. In four-plus professional seasons, Kendrick has just 12 appearances above Single-A.

Who is he, Mike Zagurski?

While we ponder that, the debate over whether or not Garcia is the biggest flop in recent Phillies’ history will persist as the names Andy Ashby, Lance Parrish, Floyd Youmans and Mike Jackson are conjured again.

Frankly, I say the biggest flop is Danny Tartabull, but that’s me. I’d like to say Ashby just because he was so miserable when he was here, but that deal seems to have worked out in the end. The Phillies got Bruce Chen in the short term and Adam Eaton found his way back to Philadelphia.

Perhaps Gavin Floyd and Gio Gonzalez will too?

***
When I was a teenager I had the pleasure of sitting near the visitors’ on-deck circle for a doubleheader between the Orioles and White Sox at Memorial Stadium. The games were fairly uneventful except for the ChiSox shortstop, Ozzie Guillen, chattering away with me as he waited to come to bat.

What I appreciated the most was that Guillen didn’t talk down to me (or anyone else) and left me wondering where he learned some of the creative ways in which to curse. It was then as it is now, spellbinding.

That’s the way it was yesterday, too, when I had the pleasure of listening to Guillen’s pre-game meeting with the writers where he discussed Garcia’s predicament… let’s just say it was fascinating and refreshing.

These days everyone is so concerned over their image and what everyone else thinks. Guillen is as real as it gets.

***
In Philadelphia we already knew that the Phillies were the losingest franchise in the history of all professional sports. Even teams that are older than the Phillies – like the Cincinnati Reds, for instance – have not lost as many games.

But the Phillies phutility has gone national as the team inches ever closer to the 10,000 loss plateau. Jere Longman of The New York Times wrote about the consistent losing of the Phillies in today’s paper.

Sigh!

***
And Tony Soprano? Yeah, it didn’t end the way you thought…

“I guess you never hear it coming when it’s your turn…”

Pay attention, people!