That loud noise you heard around dinner on Tuesday was the door slamming shut on the Philadelphia Phillies chances in the NL East this season.
If there is anything equivalent to a nuclear bomb in the sports world, the NewYork Mets acquiring the game's best pitcher -- Johan Santana -- was it.
In one fell swoop, the Mets lapped the Phillies and aren't even worried about checking the rear view mirror. And, all it took was pitchers Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey, Deolis Guerra and outfielder Carlos Gomez.
I suppose you can play optimist and hope the Mets can't sign Santana to an extension over the next 48 to 72 hours or when they do, hope even harder that he breaks down.
But, it's really not even about the player. Santana is a human being and while the two-time Cy Young Award winner will dominate for a few more years, his contract will eventually be an albatross to the Mets.
But, New York doesn't care. Like its big brother in the Bronx and the defending World Series champs in Boston, the Mets don't mind spending to chase a ring.
The Phillies? Come on...
Santana in Philadelphia probably means a World Series championship in 2008, but your Fightins' would never dare compete with the big boys for the big names.
And the local fishwraps, the same papers that never miss an opportunity to call out Phillies ownership for being frugal is an unwitting pawn in the game.
Think about it...
How many times have you read about how bad the Phils' farm system is? The same much-maligned farm system that gave you Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels by the way.
You know the drill. Carlos Carrasco, Josh Outman, Kyle Drabek and Adrian Cardenas just aren't good enough to acquire Santana...and maybe they're not...but wouldn't it have been nice if the Minnesota Twins got to make that decision instead of Bill Conlin or Howard Eskin?
Not in Philadelphia -- Santana's price tag is just too high so the Phillies aren't in the game.
Reuben Amaro has actually done a pretty good job this offseason finding the best deals he could while Pat Gillick continues his spot-on impression of Doug Moe.
The defending NL East champions shored up third base yesterday by picking up veteran Pedro Feliz and also added outfielders Geoff Jenkins and So Taguchi in free agency. The Phils also acquired a legitimate closer, Brad Lidge, and utility man Eric Bruntlett from Philly's favorite son Ed Wade.
Problem is, Amaro is shopping in the Wal-Mart clearance aisle while the Mets are in Saks Fifth Avenue.
If there is anything equivalent to a nuclear bomb in the sports world, the NewYork Mets acquiring the game's best pitcher -- Johan Santana -- was it.
In one fell swoop, the Mets lapped the Phillies and aren't even worried about checking the rear view mirror. And, all it took was pitchers Philip Humber, Kevin Mulvey, Deolis Guerra and outfielder Carlos Gomez.
I suppose you can play optimist and hope the Mets can't sign Santana to an extension over the next 48 to 72 hours or when they do, hope even harder that he breaks down.
But, it's really not even about the player. Santana is a human being and while the two-time Cy Young Award winner will dominate for a few more years, his contract will eventually be an albatross to the Mets.
But, New York doesn't care. Like its big brother in the Bronx and the defending World Series champs in Boston, the Mets don't mind spending to chase a ring.
The Phillies? Come on...
Santana in Philadelphia probably means a World Series championship in 2008, but your Fightins' would never dare compete with the big boys for the big names.
And the local fishwraps, the same papers that never miss an opportunity to call out Phillies ownership for being frugal is an unwitting pawn in the game.
Think about it...
How many times have you read about how bad the Phils' farm system is? The same much-maligned farm system that gave you Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels by the way.
You know the drill. Carlos Carrasco, Josh Outman, Kyle Drabek and Adrian Cardenas just aren't good enough to acquire Santana...and maybe they're not...but wouldn't it have been nice if the Minnesota Twins got to make that decision instead of Bill Conlin or Howard Eskin?
Not in Philadelphia -- Santana's price tag is just too high so the Phillies aren't in the game.
Reuben Amaro has actually done a pretty good job this offseason finding the best deals he could while Pat Gillick continues his spot-on impression of Doug Moe.
The defending NL East champions shored up third base yesterday by picking up veteran Pedro Feliz and also added outfielders Geoff Jenkins and So Taguchi in free agency. The Phils also acquired a legitimate closer, Brad Lidge, and utility man Eric Bruntlett from Philly's favorite son Ed Wade.
Problem is, Amaro is shopping in the Wal-Mart clearance aisle while the Mets are in Saks Fifth Avenue.
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