Freddy, we hardly knew you

By Michael Rushton
Phanatic Magazine

Every once and a while, a person comes into your life for a short period of time and leaves an everlasting impact in your life.

Freddy Garcia was not one of those people.

In fact, when Phillies fans eventually look back upon either the triumph or the repeated disappointment of the 2007 season, Garcia will be a mere blimp on the radar, a brief footnote at the bottom of the story.

To be honest, Garcia never really stood a chance in Philadelphia. His anticipated debut after being acquired from the White Sox at the Winter Meetings -- a move that promoted the Phillies' optimism to extremely high levels -- was delayed due to mild tendinitis in his right bicep.

The injury prompted Phillie fans, not the team itself mind you, to scream foul at Chicago for trading the club damaged goods.

In fact, if memory recalls right, some of the writers at the Phanatic ripped the organization for not giving Garcia a physical prior to the trade, despite the fact that the right-hander's velocity was not what it once was. More specifically, those blessed with hindsight say Philadelphia should have given Garcia an MRI.

Now Garcia is sidelined again. The words alone sound painful; "pathology of the labrum and fraying of the rotator cuff." He is likely done for the year if he has surgery, which has been recommended. Garcia is taking one last shot at saving his season by getting a second opinion from the infamous Dr. James Andrews.

And Phillies general manager Pat Gillick has once again had to defend his offseason move, one originally met with glee and triumph.

"On a trade it's a little bit different," Gillick told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "You really rely on the information that you receive from the club that the player is coming from. Certainly, your trainer and your doctors will have discussions with their medical people to see if they're basically comfortable with the situation. And in this case, our people were comfortable."

Garcia is making $10 million dollars this season and likely won't be back unless it comes at a discount. Once again, a Phillies mistake will be another team's gain as Garcia will get about half a season's rest, with Philly footing the bill.

The Phillies and Garcia didn't pursue a contract extension at the time of the trade as the righty wanted to see how he would adjust to his new club and city.

Now he will never get the chance.

Freddy, we hardly knew you.