A day after the trade was announced that would send Cliff Lee to the Mariners for Seattle’s version of Carlos Carrasco, Jason Knapp, Lou Marson and Jason Donald, our favorite mid-season acquisition of 2009 finally had a chance to speak.
To be honest, I was hoping he would be all, “Philadelphia was a great place, but I’m a Mariner now and my focus is winning games for them. You can’t dwell on the past.” Not because I don’t like Clifton — that’s far from the case. I only say that because fan/player break-ups are much easier to handle when the player has obviously moved on.
Unfortunately, that was not the case. Earlier this evening, in a conference call with some reporters, Cliff expressed his shock and disbelief when he heard the news. Andy Martino of the Inquirer was the first to publish the quotes:
“My initial reaction was shock and disbelief [Ed Note: Told you.] Initially, I was disappointed because making it to the World Series was a lot of fun, and I was looking forward to making a third run at it.
At first I didn’t believe it, because I thought that we were working out an extension with the Phillies and I thought that I was going to spend the rest of my career there…This goes to show this is a business, and you never know what’s going to happen until you have a full no-trade clause.”
Why do you think it an extension didn’t work out?
“There was not enough dialogue. (Also) They had an opportunity to get the best pitcher in baseball, and I can’t blame them for choosing Roy Halladay over me…I was under the impression they would keep me for a long time.
I’m going to be as positive as I can, and go over there and try to make it to the World Series with those guys…it’s a new chapter. I’ve got to go to the Mariners and make the best of it. I’m going to go in with an open mind and do everything I can.”
“Those guys are the real deal. It was a true team and I can’t say enough about them.”
Damn. Well, if it makes you feel any better, Cliff, we didn’t want you to leave either.
Cliff Lee: “Shock and disbelief” | The Phillies Zone
UPDATE, 9:25 pm: Here’s the audio from the teleconference via KJR AM 960 in Seattle:
88 Comments on “Cliff Lee doesn’t sound too thrilled to be leaving the Phillies”
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December 17th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Welp…. I feel like shit. Still love having Doc, but sorry it was at your expense C. Lee
December 17th, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Damn you, meech!
December 17th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Godspeed, Phifer. We’ll miss you.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Sorry we didn’t feel like giving you 170 million right now. See ya, Cliff.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:39 pm
December 17th, 2009 at 8:40 pm
This combined with statement Amaro made about being able to have the BOTH of them INFURIATES me.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
Everyone remind themselves of this when you hear the excuse from Phillies brass this was “a baseball move.” That’s bullshit. It was a money move. And not a “Cliff Lee was going to get CC money in Winter 2010″ move.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:42 pm
SEE? I expected him to say something like this, and it breaks my heart
Nobody wanted to see Cliff leave, especially not this soon…so it’s really ashame for the fans and for the man himself
Best of luck in Seattle, and I will always cheer for you no matter the team!
Even if you *shudder* sign with the Yankees, I couldn’t boo you
December 17th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Yea, as much as I loved Cliff – give me a fucking break. Before the playoffs, he was HORRIBLE. Nobody knew what we were even going to get out of him in the playoffs. Then he looked great against the Dodgers and Rockies. You know who also shut down the Dodgers? Pedro Martinez aged 45. Then Cliff pitched ONE good game against the Yankees and one terrible game.
The blowjob this guy is getting from Philadelphia is deserved, but it’s not like he was the best pitcher that’s ever been in this city. The season needs to hurry up and start so this city can see somebody twice as good as Lee. Go team go.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:50 pm
Eric: But you are forgetting that Cliff’s first 5 Phillies starts were EXCELLENT, before he started to struggle during the last month or so of the regular season. Even great pitchers have some crappy starts, but there’s little doubt that he helped us a lot more than he hurt us. Still can’t believe he’s gone
December 17th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Also, Pedro is 38 not 45.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
@Eric: Why exactly does he have to be the best pitcher this team has had to deserve praise and want to be retained? If we compared everyone to Carlton we’d hate every single pitcher that put on a Phils uni?
December 17th, 2009 at 8:57 pm
My point has more to do with the fact that we just brought in a guy better than Lee and he’s just as nice and awesome.
December 17th, 2009 at 8:58 pm
While Halladay may very well be the best pitcher we have had since Carlton, Lee certainly can’t be very far behind, and without him…do you HONESTLY think we would have been back to a second consecutive World Series?
Lee deserves our respect and thanks, and I really wish he didn’t have to go
December 17th, 2009 at 9:05 pm
Oh no, Lee single handedly took us back to the WS, considering Cole was useless. But that said, we upgraded even further and didn’t lose anything in terms of class or personality. I’m just pointing out that Lee was mediocre for half of his starts here and then had a nice run in the playoffs against shitty NL teams. It was impressive, but it wasn’t something we haven’t seen before (Cole in 08 was better). Sooo I’m sad to see Lee leaving but I’m not as suicidal as this town fraudulently is.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:06 pm
No one is saying Lee is better than Halladay, from what I’ve gathered, we just feel for the guy.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:14 pm
That really depresses me. I’d rather he be mad.
On the other hand, if he wants to come in 2011, settle for less money (PLEASE).
December 17th, 2009 at 9:19 pm
Also, I think Ruben made the right decision but I do wonder how far the conversation went between Cliff Lee and the Phillies regarding an extension. I know we heard all this stuff about him wanting to test free agency and wanting CC money, but maybe there’s more to it. After all, I think it was apparent that Ruben really wanted Halladay.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:26 pm
*come back
/the dreaded triple post.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
there’s always next year… do what Doc did and sign for “below market average” during the 2010 off-season.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Well, we will have $8 million in cap space after you-know-who retires and/or his arm falls off. Perhaps money towards the Cliff Lee fund?
December 17th, 2009 at 9:35 pm
damn. i’m happy with halladay, but miss lee already. i wish they could have at least given halladay a different number, jeeze! but oh well….moving on.
December 17th, 2009 at 9:43 pm
two words… Scott Boras
December 17th, 2009 at 9:49 pm
is not cliff lees agent
December 17th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
especially sad to see lee go after reading this interview, but its honestly better for the team, especially with players such as rollins and werth becoming free agents next year and howard being up for free agency in 2012. as bad as it sucks, its better to let lee go now instead of having to worry about contract negotiations for next year with him.
December 17th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
I loved Cliff as much as the next guy but I’m not gonna lose any sleep over him being upset. If he’s that upset, he should fire his agent.
December 17th, 2009 at 10:16 pm
Sounds like Amaro does not play games. If he does not like what he hears, he moves on. That’s how we got Lee in the first place. I personally think the agent has something to do with it. I would not go as far to say he overplayed his hand because it was so early in the process though. If he threw out the CC deal as a starting point. I could see Amaro getting up and moving on. Some people are just that way. You get one shot with them. I have seen it happen. If that is what happened, Amaro is wrong and the agent is also wrong misreading the situation. This could probably have been avoided.
If trading Lee was the plan, I think Amaro should have waited to trade him. Don’t you think the Angels would have liked to have had a shot at him after Lackey bolted? It appears this deal was in place by the time that move was done so that sucked.
I feel bad for the guy, even more so now after hearing this interview. He had the stuff and personality to be loved here like few others. However, as Stark wrote before, as great as Lee was the last two years, Halladay was still better so I look forward to 2010 as much as last season.
We will always wonder what could have been. :sniff:
December 17th, 2009 at 10:33 pm
enrico i was thinking the same thing, i think his agent talked Cliffs way out of town. its a shame though, but his agent is the boner that got him into this mess (in my mind). if the phils felt like they could keep him past 2010, i feel like they would’ve
December 17th, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Great, now he’s making me feel bad. Love ya Cliff <3
December 17th, 2009 at 10:45 pm
We’ll miss you Cliff. Ruben should have kept you…
December 17th, 2009 at 10:59 pm
Cliff is an ace, let’s not let that slip through the cracks. He had problems in September because his pitching depends on pinpoint location, and it was just off for a few starts. I’m sad to see him go, but this was, inarguably, the right move. And it’s sad to hear him say this, but this is what every player in his situation would say. It’s what you have to say, really.
Oh, and Roy fucking Halladay is a Phillie
December 17th, 2009 at 11:01 pm
As I read more and more about Lee’s last days here, here’s how I think it went down. Ruben and Lee’s agent had discussed a possible extension. Lee’s agent was pussyfooting and playing games and trying to string-a-long the negotiations possibly well into the season with the full intention that Lee was going to go to the highest bidder after the season ended (or at least that’s how I think Ruben saw it anyways). Thus leaving the Phillies with nothing to show for except 2 draft picks whose contributions would not have been seen for a while. Seeing what Lee’s agent was doing, Ruben picked up the phone and decided that it was time for Plan B/Roy Halladay. (Remember: Halladay said he would not approve of a trade once spring training started). When Lee’s agent found out that Ruben was not taking bait for his tactic and knowing how much Lee enjoyed Philly, they made a last minute plea but by that time the window of opportunity had closed and it was adios amigo!
December 17th, 2009 at 11:08 pm
Damn, now I’m going to miss him even more. Fucking agents ruining everything. I was stoked to see a Lee 34 jersey for a while yet…
December 17th, 2009 at 11:10 pm
Does the doc come with a bat like Lee did?
December 17th, 2009 at 11:18 pm
Ruben Amaro is the Michael Corleone of GM’s. He’s a cold blooded assassin. Unfortunately for Cliff Lee, he and his agent went against the family by asking for too much money, so he got the Fredo treatment.
A rotation of Halladay and Lee would have been too sweeeeeeeet!!! Now we have to count on pussy boy Hamels and that screwed up head of his. I think Amaro is going to regret this one.
December 17th, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Just because it was the right move, doesn’t mean we can’t all be a little disappointed.
December 17th, 2009 at 11:26 pm
As much as it calls my sexuality into question, this scenario reminds me of the show One Tree Hill that I watch with my wife… The agent played hardball just a little too much and it scared the hometown team into going into a completely different direction. While Cliff and his agent are on record as saying that they thought talks were progressing smoothly, I think it’s safe to say management didn’t agree.
December 17th, 2009 at 11:32 pm
This will certainly not make ruben amaro a good and fair gm. He was obsessed with halladay and that is something where he just screwed a guy who won our only 2 wins in the world series. amaro better hope that hamels is an ace and not a “princess”
December 17th, 2009 at 11:36 pm
Amaro had a hard-on for Halladay from the beginning, and Lee ended up being the odd one out
Without knowing all the details behind the negotiating, it’s hard to say if extending Lee would have been feasible or not, but Lee seems to think it was…
December 17th, 2009 at 11:38 pm
All I can do now is just HOPE that the Phillies find some way to bring Lee back at some point in the future, but who knows if that’s realistic
December 17th, 2009 at 11:45 pm
No way Ruben was wrong. He needs to protect the success and maintain the Phillies’s appeal as a desirable place for players to play. If he had an opportunity to land Halladay (while believing that he would ultimately lose Lee and the prospects he exchanged for him), he had to execute. I’m with SmartPhan – the agent was seeing dollars and failed to represent the best interests of his client. As a consequence, Lee, and his agent, were sent packing. The emotion in Phifer’s voice does not indicate greed; rather it reflects genuine sadness. I think Cliff Lee knows that his agent messed up and he is voicing his disappointment. The ESPN interview is just as depressing. Or maybe this is just damage control and Lee’s a great actor, but I don’t really get that impression.
December 17th, 2009 at 11:50 pm
I agree with the sentiment of just because it’s a great move doesn’t mean we can’t be a little upset about Cliff leaving. Something I’ve been saying all along is we really don’t know that Cliff wouldn’t have taken a similar “discount” that Roy took to stay here because it seemed like he loved it in Philly. I just don’t want Cliff goin out with the bad reputation that he was begging for more money because it doesn’t seem it’s true. The bottom line is something Amaro hasn’t said but it’s true and even Cliff pointed it out when he said we chose Roy Halladay over him. Can’t say it was the wrong choice, but I’ll always remember Cliff’s magic this post season.
PS. Eric once again you come off like an ass, trying to downplay how good Lee was for us. His run this postseason was one of the best postseasons in MLB history and better than Hamels ‘08 and thats saying something.
December 18th, 2009 at 12:09 am
I’m tired of reporters and fans referring to Ruben Amaro’s interest in bringing Halladay here as a “man crush”.
or saying he had a “hard on” for Halladay.
He’s doing his job and getting an awesome player.
December 18th, 2009 at 12:10 am
*getting us an awesome player
December 18th, 2009 at 12:10 am
I compare this a little bit to Pat the Bat vs. Raul. At first everyone was a little bit upset because they loved Pat and saw an older guy coming in to take his spot and earn more money. Then once we actually got to see the new guy play, we were like damn I love Pat but this dude is better. Obviously we are talking about middle aged LFers instead of bad ass MFers like Clifton and Doc, but I still think there is a parallel.
It would be hard for anyone to leave this team right now, especially if you felt like you were a huge reason for their previous success. Another point that people aren’t quite realizing is that even IF clifton would have agreed to stay 5 years at a small discount, there is a good chance we still made the right move even when you factor in the loss of Drabek and Taylor.
December 18th, 2009 at 12:15 am
I love thick ethnic men. I love how they taste.
December 18th, 2009 at 12:21 am
I just listened to Cliff’s interview with Karl Ravech on baseball tonight. It makes me want to vomit. Damn the business of baseball. It shocks me a little bit that he said he wanted to spend the rest of his career in Philly…I feel like that is something you would have told your agent and made sure he got the deal done, regardless.
As one commenter over at espn.com put it though, if the best pitcher in the game agrees to take a pay cut to come to your team…you do it. It’s a damn shame Clifton was the collateral damage.
December 18th, 2009 at 12:32 am
I agree BigMiles. If he really thought and wanted to spend the rest of his career in Philly it seems like something you’d tell your agent so you get an extension. I really don’t want to hear anymore from Cliff Lee. It just makes me sad. I know baseball is a business but you get attached, even after 3 months.
Although it’s great to know that the Phillies have and are building a team that guys like Lee and Halladay want to be a part of.
December 18th, 2009 at 12:35 am
i honestly dont think that i’ve ever been this upset about a trade. not even about pat the bat getting the boot. maybe it’s because with pat we had time to brace ourselves for what was coming. this whole lee thing was like a blind punch. i’ll admit that ruben isn’t my favorite person at the moment as i believe there were other players this deal could have been made with. and yes i know the reasons why lee was shipped to seattle and i understand them. but being a gm and hard ons for players don’t necessarily mix well. i’m definitely going to miss clifton phifer lee. here’s to hoping ruben is able to bring him back in the future and that cole hamels is not the diva he was in ‘09.
December 18th, 2009 at 12:46 am
Also Ruben and Lee both confirmed that an offer was made a couple of weeks ago. I read the article on the Phillies website but Ruben stated he’s uncomfortable giving pitchers more than a 3-4 year contract. My guess is that Lee and his agent probably wanted a longer contract and it wasn’t all about the money. I do have a question: Lee mentioned that they didn’t make their counteroffer until a couple of days ago. Does it usually take that long? It seems like maybe their counteroffer was too late. It could’ve possibly been one that Ruben would’ve accepted. It’s hard to argue with Roy Halladay though.
December 18th, 2009 at 12:58 am
So sad to see him go. He really was unbelievable. Now this whole trad for Halladay just seems tainted in a way.
December 18th, 2009 at 1:08 am
damnit you’re right, this just makes it worse.
December 18th, 2009 at 2:01 am
Cliff played the same card in Cleveland. The “Hey I wanted to talk contract with these guys!” Failing to mention that his asking price would be like 6 years 130 million or something.
December 18th, 2009 at 2:15 am
When we trade Aumont, Gillies, and Ramirez for Lee at the trade deadline and win the whole goddamn thing again this argument will be moot.
December 18th, 2009 at 3:12 am
What the fuck is up with the emoticons? We don’t do emoticons here.
Move along, WorldPhuckingChampions010. ;->
December 18th, 2009 at 4:33 am
SmartPhan, I think based on all the info we have from both sides, that’s probably what happened.
I really think Cliff got royally screwed by his agent here. He really strikes me as a person that would have taken a 3-4 year deal to stay here if that was the bottom line. Maybe I’m wrong, but I think he and Halladay seem similar in winning being the more important than money.
December 18th, 2009 at 8:23 am
I loved Cliff as much as the next guy. I think that is the reason the trade is so disputed by alot of us. We fell in love with the guy last year (especially after he nonchalantly bitch slapped the Wankees in Game 1 of the WS). I think we can all see that this deal has it’s pros and cons:
Pros:
We get Roy Halladay for 4 (possibly 5 years).
We have a few promising guys in Reading that may help us in the next couple of years.
Didn’t have to give up (arguably) the finest outfield prospect in anyones system, Dom Brown.
Cons:
Farewell Clifford Phifer. You will be missed.
Halladay + Playoffs? No clue how he’ll be.
Hamels is still here. At least in body. He’s a head case, so let’s hope he’s prepared.
Back end of the rotation looks kind of suspect. Blanton = Good. Happ = ?? Moyer = Who knows.
Wasn’t that Drabeck (despite 2 Tommy Johns) “untouchable”?
Michael Taylor was a STUD!
December 18th, 2009 at 8:51 am
If there’s one thing I keep taking away from the statements made by both Halladay and Lee its that Philly is now THE place to be playing meaningful baseball. When I stop to think about it, it’s just mind blowing. Count your blessings people, thank you baby Jesus!
December 18th, 2009 at 9:05 am
Thanks for the memories and the wins, Cliff!
December 18th, 2009 at 9:14 am
“Halladay + Playoffs? No clue how he’ll be.”
He’ll pitch in the playoffs like he pitches in the regular season – dominantly
December 18th, 2009 at 9:18 am
the playoffs changes everyone.. some players play soft, some play harder.. somehow i dont think a competitor like Roy Halladay is going to get soft come October.
December 18th, 2009 at 9:21 am
and that’s what Cliff gets for employing bob sugar
December 18th, 2009 at 9:21 am
I just haven’t felt the same since all this went down. Things got pretty hot and heavy between me and Clifton real fast, and then one day he was just gone.
December 18th, 2009 at 9:26 am
Cliff Lee was a golden god and will be missed. How f’in great is it that THESE are now the things we have to argue about and that piss us off. “But I liked the Cy Young winner we had better than the Cy Young winner we just got….” I can still see Veterans Stadium rockin 5,000 paying customers in the rear view. Lovin Philly as a destination for the big FA.
December 18th, 2009 at 9:36 am
5,000 would fit in about 2 sections of the lower level. but your point is spot on however. these are the glory days.. and we dont even have to read about them in a book.
December 18th, 2009 at 9:41 am
i don’t see how a guy who plays every fifth day “single handedly took us back to the playoffs”
December 18th, 2009 at 9:46 am
No, I was definitely at a few late-season Vet games where there were more paid employees than paying fans.
December 18th, 2009 at 9:52 am
A lot of folks have been fretting about how Halladay will be in the playoffs since he’s never been there before. It’s not like it’s a different game, people. Most players’ reputations of dominance or uselessness in the playoffs are really the results of small sample size. Over time (and given enough opportunities, which a lot of players don’t get), just about every player’s playoff performance will wind up being pretty consistent with their career performance. See Jeter, Derek.
December 18th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Well the Great and Terrible Secret about postseason play is that a player will pretty much produce at the level they usually do. The problem is the sample size – dudes play a whole 162 game season, and then it boils down to 5 or 7 games and you get all kinds of crazy statistical noise, like A-Rod batting .100 and shit. That’s the heart of it.
December 18th, 2009 at 9:55 am
Goddamnit I don’t hit refresh and someone beats me to it again
December 18th, 2009 at 9:59 am
Well at least he was still a Phil when he was in that studly tractor ad.
Cliffie we hardly knew ye.
I blame the dirtbag agent.
December 18th, 2009 at 10:11 am
One thing that a lot of fans fail to realize is that Cliff Lee’s 4-0 playoff record in 2009 by no means translates to an automatic 4-0 playoff record in 2010. Reference: Cole Hamels.
December 18th, 2009 at 10:11 am
well, Rube got to satisfy his man crush on Roy. Hope it was worth it Rube. Hope it was worth it.
December 18th, 2009 at 10:17 am
I don’t blame his agent, he didn’t know Halladay was going to offer himself below value, and Lee obviously knew there was arbitration, which means he wanted to get the most money possible. He gambled and lost, simple enough, it happens. If he wanted to stay he should have told his agent to lock down a deal at the end of last season.
December 18th, 2009 at 10:20 am
Also, Lee’s agent knows once the season starts we have few options and being in the position of bidding for Lee next year (and if we lose him losing much of our chance at success) is not where we want to be.
December 18th, 2009 at 10:23 am
Wow. I actually feel very crappy after hearing that. For real.
December 18th, 2009 at 11:08 am
It does make me sad to hear this, because like every good Phillies fan, I loved me some Clifton Phifer. But to start hating on the deal and Amaro because of this is just silly. We’re never going to fully know what happened in the last few weeks because each side is always going to look out for itself, but there are a few things that are certain.
The first is that Cliff Lee, as much as he can say he wanted to spend the rest of his career here, obviously didn’t make it clear to his agent to make a long-term deal happen. The second is that we now have Roy Halladay locked up for several years, and Roy Halladay is a pitcher who has historically been better, made it clear he wants to be around for awhile, and is willing to do so while taking a pay cut. It sucks for Cliff that Roy was willing to do that and make it a no-brainer for the Phillies to sign him long-term, but there’s the business side of things coming into play. Maybe Cliff would have been willing to take a similar deal, but his agent apparently did nothing to suggest that and left the Phillies to make the better business decision with Roy. The Phillies did not want to enter a bidding war for Lee next offseason where the length of contract and overall salary on the table would be higher than they ever intended to go, and they made the decision that avoids that problem.
As far as the dream season where they’d both be here goes; I’ll miss that possibility just as much as any one. But it wouldn’t really change Lee’s situation so drastically, it’d only give him one more year in Philly any way and we’d still be left to look at Halladay as the superior long-term answer. Instead, we got some value in return for him and he’ll have to go to Seattle either legitimately saddened by his side’s failure to secure a future in Philly, or pleased that he can go out and get Sabathia money anywhere after this season. The Phillies have the best pitcher in the game and a young ace who will rebound in 2010, so there’s no reason to think we can’t be playing for the WS title yet again next year. Anybody who thinks we need Lee and Halladay to win another championship should remember that we did when in 07, we didn’t have either of those two guys.
December 18th, 2009 at 11:52 am
I’m going to miss Clifton and his trot off the mound. But I LOVE how this positions the Phils, and I love that Ruben seems hell-bent on KEEPing (sounds weird) the Phils an elite team.
December 18th, 2009 at 2:39 pm
Sp essentially, by letting Lee go and getting Halladay our rotation is slightly better. A great #1, and question marks all the way down though the #5. And we gave up 7 prospects and Cliff Lee to do it. Amaro is a genius? the Lee trade was genius..
December 18th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Cliff’s comments make me so sad, and mad at the Phillies organization for that side of the trade.
I still love you, Clifton Phifer Lee.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:40 pm
You guys are fucking idiots if you buy into this shit. While I really respect Lee and would have loved if he stayed another year to think that he thought he was going to retire a Philly, let alone get the $ he wanted after next year is assine. He was going to test the market and if you heard his comment about it in the first minute of the interview you’ll know thats exactly what he was going to do. There was no discount or consideration for playing with the Phillies. He and his agent want CC dollars and there was NO WAY IN HELL the Phillies would have been able to offer that. So all this “shock” and “wanting to retire a Phillie” or thinking he was here to stay is bullshit. I’m sorry, it is and you need to wake the fuck up if you think otherwise.
December 18th, 2009 at 4:41 pm
And thats asinine. Sorry for the typo.
December 18th, 2009 at 6:15 pm
Thanks for everything, Clifton
December 19th, 2009 at 8:33 am
What do you think he’s going to say I was greedy & wanted a ton of money? Come on. He knows how to play the game. Suck it up, we have the best pitcher in baseball for a low price! If this upsets you so much, go be a mets fan, I’m sure they have plenty worse to worry about.
December 19th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I’ve been a Phillies fan for 49 years and I’ll be as upset as I want to be about this, thank you. This whole situation makes me sick. Amaro, Montgomery & Co have behaved like punks, lying and insulting our intelligence throughout (i.e., it was a baseball decision, we operate in the red, don’t listen to those rumors Cliff, etc.) They get the best pitcher in baseball and manage to depress and/or outrage at least half of their fan base in the process. We have a Cy Young winner who pitches his butt off for us, loves the city, the city loves him and it ends ugly. Good luck Roy and Cliff, you both deserve better.
December 19th, 2009 at 5:34 pm
I feel like I just broke up with the most loyal boyfriend ever and now there’s already another hottie knocking on my door eager to show me he’s as much of a stud as the last guy. What a predicament.
December 20th, 2009 at 7:33 am
I don’t give a shit who has the better numbers, Cliff fit in here perfectly and he has always been a great guy. I’m sure Roy is great too but I can’t take this. I want Cliff back
December 20th, 2009 at 7:36 am
ugh bet /i hate to contradict myself but lets all give Roy a chance, he needs our backing everyone.