Winter Meetings- Business as usual

Ok big suprise: The Phillies have come away from the 2007 winter meeting in Nashville with nothing more to show than two Rule V players. Lincoln Holdzkom from The Boston Red Sox (a real steal, considering Boston just gives away talent: (insert joke here) and Travis Blackley from the San Fransisco Giants. Meanwhile, the World Champion Boston Red Sox are closing in on Johan Santana, the Tigers acquire Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis from Florida...................

Granted, overall the winter meetings were uneventful. However, you look at Boston, who not only won the World Series, but have made it quite clear that they want to win the series again for the next 5 years. Moreover, take a look at the Tigers, who failed to return to the fall classic, yet obviously are making strides to do so. If the Phillies let Aaron Rowand walk and STILL don't fill their offensive black hole at third base, is there any way that we can be convinced that this team on paper is BETTER than the 2007 squad let alone repeat as NL East Champs? Do you really want your outfielder with the best overall arm patrolling center field? Do you think they would even have a snowballs chance of beating the previously mentioned teams in a World Series?! You mean to tell me the Phils minor league list of prospects is THAT bad to where they couldn't give Florida two of their best for a lefty in your rotation and a stud like Cabrera? It is a true crime that the best infield in Major League Baseball doesn't have a right handed-power hitting stud to compliment the other three gems. It's like having a beautiful Christmas tree, and then you top it off with a decrept angel or star on the top, it just doesn't make sense. It also doesn't make sense that the Phillies allegedly offered Mike Lowell a four year contract worth fifty million dollars, yet won't offer Japanese import Hiroki Kuroda anywhere near that kind of money. Remember, this is a team whose number one priority is pitching. And yes, the Kansas City Royals are still in the hunt for this guy. That's right, the Royals.

Simply put, for one reason or the other, the blame MUST be put on the owners. They can argue until they are blue on the face that they don't have the resources to trade to acquire more high caliber players such as Santana. This may be true. However, whose fault is that for ignoring and also giving away their minor league system? This is what happens when you decide to spend your money towards other priorities as opposed to spending it on your minor league system. Do you expect anything less from this group of owners? Meanwhile, I hope the thirty eight employees the Phillies brass took to Nashville had a fun time.

In a nutshell, the only person who is smoking a victory cigar today is John Middleton, and as usual, the Philly faithful will be disgruntled once again.