Three reasons to fire Ruben!

This season for the Philadelphia Phillies has been one of ups and downs. The Phillies at some points have shown flashes of brilliance, and at other times have been real head scratchers. Though the Phillies season to many seems to be a lost cause, at this point they are still in reach of first place, only being 5.5 games out. If the Phillies were to have one long hot streak of 5 or 66 games won in a row, they could be playoff contenders. However, one thing has been clear in many Phillies fans minds. This is the idea that Ruben Amaro should no longer be with the Phillies. There are three main reasons why Amaro’s time in Philadelphia has been a failure.

                

 The first reason why Ruben Amaro’s GM time in Philadelphia, though short has been a complete failure, is that almost every player  Amaro has brought it has failed. Amaro has made deals that on paper seemed to be amazing to fans and the league, however in reality it did not seem to work out. Amaro has made deals to bring in players like Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, and Hunter Pence. Though each of these games had a few successful seasons in Philadelphia, they never really helped the team succeed. Bringing in a guy like Roy Halladay seemed to be a move that would greatly help the Philadelphia Phillies, and though he had great success in Philly he was never able to help the team to get over the hump. Though he threw a perfect game and no hitter wearing the Phillies pinstripes he could really never help them reach their overall goals. The aging superstar would have several injuries and would never be able to bring the Phillies a World Series. The Hunter Pence deal was a different story. Bringing Pence in was a good idea and seemed like a plan that could really help the Phillies out. Hunter Pence was a strong bat in the outfield with the potential to be a key for the Phillies. Amaro had to give up several future potential MLB players to bring in Pence, however it seemed to be the right idea on paper. But, Ruben Amaro simply gave up on Hunter Pence. This is a move that still today does not make much sense. The reason that seemed to be behind the move was that Pence lacked production, but as many fans saw this was not the case. Amaro brought Pence in with the hopes he would be a superstar, which would have the ability to carry a team on his back when injuries occurred. However, as any person knowledgeable about baseball would understand that Pence is a key cog in team. Hunter Pence is not a star that is why he fit so well in San Francisco. Hunter Pence is better than anyone else Amaro has brought in, in recent years and is a much better outfielder then what they have today. These are only two examples of the failures Amaro has had, this is not including other moves he made for other guys that he felt would be great fits, but only became failures. Amaro has an odd loyalty to players as well guys like Jonathan Papelbon and Brown. These are guys he does not want to give up on, due to the fact I believe he thinks of them as his guys. Almost every player Amaro has signed and traded for has been a failure in Philadelphia. The moves that Amaro has made have been wasteful ones.

                 

The second reason why Amaro’s time here has been a failure is his lack of scouting ability. The Phillies have always had a dreadful scouting system, with the lack of ability to scout key players and guys that could be a cog in a team. Amaro, likes to scout guys that seem to be five tool players, rather than pieces that could help the team grow. Amaro has great support for Domonic Brown, this is due to the fact he has great potential according to Amaro. Brown is a young guy that should have been traded away for players that could be used as a cog for this Phillies organization. Brown is a prime example of too much support to players that lack MLB ability. Looking at the guys in recent years Amaro has drafted or signed each and every of these young guys seem to lack MLB talent and ability. Only two of Amaro’s draft choices have made it to the Major Leagues and that is Jon Singleton and Cody Asche. Singleton is now a potential star for the Houston Astros and Cody Asche has had his ups and downs this season with the Phillies. Amaro has not had much draft luck.

                 

The third and final reason why Amaro’s time here has been horrible is that the lack of success the Phillies have had. Even though for the first few years of Amaro’s reign they made the playoffs and even won the division, they still seemed to be lacking something and these teams were not truly Amaro’s teams. Now we are seeing teams that are more made up of players that are Ruben Amaro’s. Over the last two seasons the Phillies records have been; 73-89,81-81, and this season seems not to be doing much better. The Phillies teams have had a lack of success with Amaro as the GM of the team. Though he has brought in some great players like Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee, and was able to provide the Phillies in 2011 a season with 102 wins, they haven’t been able to get over the hump. Some of the additions Amaro has made like Halladay were great ones with the potential for a lot of upside, however it didn’t pan out that way. The Phillies were never really able to get over the hump with Amaro as the GM. Amaro tried to play with the big boys and buy his team, when rather he should have been focusing on getting cogs that fit in the system of the Phillies. The Phillies should have won at least one or two more World Series since 2008, though injuries and bad moves have gotten in the way they should have brought the city of Philadelphia one more championship.