Friday, May 24, 2013
Friday, May 24, 2013

Phillies select Amaro as new GM

The Daily News has learned that the Phillies are planning to announce their new general manager on Monday. It's no surprise: Ruben Amaro, Jr. is the choice.

123 comments

Phillies select Amaro as new GM

POSTED: Saturday, November 1, 2008, 8:00 PM

This just in. . .

   Ruben Amaro Jr. is the new Phillies general manager.

   Sources close to the situation confirmed to the Daily News' Paul Hagen that club president Dave Montgomery met with assistant general manager, scouting and player development Mike Arbuckle yesterday and informed him that he had lost out to Amaro in what had been considered a two-man sweepstakes.

   Arbuckle, who was hired by former general manager Lee Thomas before the 1993 season, then informed Montgomery that he will be leaving the organization to pursue other opportunities, the sources continued.

   An official announcement is expected Monday.

   UPDATE: The Phillies have just confirmed our report and will hold a news conference at 10 a.m. Monday.

   The decision to hire Amaro, 43, is hardly a shock. There was strong speculation when Pat Gillick was hired three years ago that he was brought in, in part, to mentor the young assistant.

   Amaro, who was often presented as the public face of the Phillies front office as Gillick preferred to operate of the spotlight, is heavily involved in many aspects of the organization, including contract negotiations. It was Amaro who introduced closer Brad Lidge and spoke for the organization when the Phillies announced his contract extension earlier this season.

   Amaro has strong Phillies ties. His father, Ruben Sr., played for the Phillies and then worked for the team in a number of capacities. Ruben Jr. was a batboy for the Phillies from 1980 through 1983, and also played for the Phils in 1992-93 and 1996-98. He is also bilingual and a graduate of Stanford.

   Nevertheless, Arbuckle's qualifications merited strong consideration. One of the first things Montgomery mentioned on the field in the giddy moments of euphoria after the Phillies clinched the team’s first World Series title since 1980 on Wednesday night was the “many homegrown players” who had made it possible.

   And it was Arbuckle, 58, who supervised the drafts that netted Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels, Chase Utley, Jimmy Rollins, Brett Myers, Pat Burrell and Carlos Ruiz. It was also the system that provided the players (Michael Bourn, Geoff Geary, Mike Costanzo) that allowed Gillick to acquire Brad Lidge last November.

   It remains to be seen if others in the scouting and player development department will follow Arbuckle out the door.

  Amaro, who has been mentioned as a candidate for several general manager positions over the past few offseasons, will represent the Phillies at the GM meetings in California starting Monday.

123 comments
Comments  (123)
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:57 PM, 11/08/2008
    Wow, it's really upsetting to see this kind of negativity regarding Amaro's hiring. The Phillies are world champions, the future looks bright, but still the negativity. This guy will do well. Give the organization some credit. It just won a World Series, and is still poised to compete for more championships.
    jimqk
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:50 AM, 11/03/2008
    Cannot believe the negative comments. Gillick did a great job and he recommended Rubie. Educated, articulate, experienced and hard-working. What am I missing ? Those of you citing an affirmative action issue need to grow up . Check out the roster, you WASPS, and enter the real workd of Philly. Congrats RA Jr.
    mick314
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:59 AM, 11/03/2008
    Leron is discerning. Last year, Cole asked RA,Jr. for a chiropractor. Instead, he got him a massage therapist. "I don't know much about it", Amaro said. "But they're all the same". That's an ibicilic comment right from AR's frontal lobe. So now we've got book-ends. How nice.
    ItalianSausage
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:53 AM, 11/03/2008
    This makes no sense other that the need to hire a minority in a leadership role. Shoulda made Arbuckle GM, and Amaro the money/contract guy - not sure what you'd call the position. I'd even make him president of the club. But you've got to reward the guy -Arbuckle - who essentially put the team together! It's just nuts!
    ricky11211
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:10 AM, 11/03/2008
    Carlosd1980, Bobbyd just mentioned some of the bad trades Wade made. I don't have to go back and mentioned all the trades when he sent young players for mediocre middle relievers. They are well documented. If you are smart enough you should know it by now. He is so bad he gave us Lidge for nothing.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:40 PM, 11/02/2008
    A terrible decision. Another reason why we haven't won a World Series in 2 days.
    PowderFinger
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:53 PM, 11/02/2008
    arbuckle was the key to success... amaro is a yes man....
    main liner
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:50 PM, 11/02/2008
    poshnspice, General "F#*kin" Manager !!!!
    bigtbone
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:36 PM, 11/02/2008
    Well, Arbuckle may have presided over the Phillies drafts, but let's face it, the Phillies farm system isn't that great. How good a job could Arbuckle have done?
    Neal Obstat
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:29 PM, 11/02/2008
    Ed Wade helped win 5 World Series titles. Traded Curt Schilling for nothing, Curt went on to win 3 WS, traded Rolen to St.Louis who won the WS, then traded Lidge to Phillies. I never realized Ed Wade was that bright.
    BobbyD
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:53 PM, 11/02/2008
    Congrats Philly !!! - The Celebration of winning the WS is not even cold yet- 3 days ago - 2 million + celebrating on Broad - today- trashing the team. NOTE TO J-ROLL - YOU HAD IT RIGHT DUDE - BUNCH OF FRONT RUNNERS...TYPICAL PHILLY !! - You fans are a JOKE !!
    poshnspice
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:39 PM, 11/02/2008
    I'm soooo happy. : - )
    Stanley Levin
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:26 PM, 11/02/2008
    I'm a big fan of Reuben Amaro Jr. I watched his father play for the Phillies, he's got GREAT Phillies bloodlines and I'm sure he'll do an outstanding job. On the other side..Seeing Mike Arbuckle go has got to be a sad thing. Mike has done so much for the organization, one cannot do anything but wish him all the best wherever he ends up, he's truly a number one guy who got caught up in the 'shuffle' and politics within the organization. There has never been any doubt who the next GM would be. That's why they brought in Pat Gillick initially, to mentor Amaro. GO PHILLIES!
    Stanley Levin
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:16 PM, 11/02/2008
    I would have chosen Arbuckle, because of his knowledge and experience! Need I say more.
    mick
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:07 PM, 11/02/2008
    Well, it didn't take most of you to find that negativity again... What proof do any of you have that Amaro won't be successful?
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:54 PM, 11/02/2008
    I see it didn't take long for the entitled racists to show up. FACT: If you cry "affirmative action" EVERY TIME a minority gets a job, that just reveals that deep down you think no minority is ever qualified for anything. That makes you a racist, no matter how hard you try to conceal or deny it with weasel words. Amaro may or may not be the right choice for the Phillies, but one thing that can't be denied is that most of you knee-jerk critics on this site have no right to judge him, seeing as how he's a heckuva lot smarter, better qualified, and better educated than any of you.
    sil campusano
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:47 PM, 11/02/2008
    Two questions: 1. If Amaro's obviously so terrible, why didn't Gillick fire him? 2. If Gillick didn't fire him because the owners didn't want him to, doesn't that make Gillick a yes-man? In that case how would Amaro be a step down?
    sil campusano
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:32 PM, 11/02/2008
    lets hope amaro makes the farm system a priority, although I don't know how he does it without arbuckle.
    dpcoz
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:27 PM, 11/02/2008
    so much for the 2009 repeat...
    bxrmn32
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:26 PM, 11/02/2008
    Amaro used to carry Ed Wade's water. Lets hope that Gillick actually did manage to rub off on him a little over the past few years. Lets keep our fingers crossed.....
    Zee77
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:27 PM, 11/02/2008
    Aaugh!!! Mike Arbuckle was the guy! Now he'll be working AGAINST the Phils, not for them. And Ruby-Jr., Ed Wade's nasty foster child, will be working against them, too, just by being Ruby-Jr.
    afsawyer
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:16 PM, 11/02/2008
    Have to agree with all who talk of Amaro being a "yes man" for Monty, Giles & The Phantom Phive. Amaro is a pompous, arrogant man (unlike his brother, who is a stand up guy all around), and will continue to give stock answers and non answers to questions about spending and the minor league system. And to 2stepbay, Amaro will not strengthen/enhance the Phils connection to the Latin American talent pool. First off, there is no connection. While other major league teams were building in the Dominican, the Phils did nothing, and from most accounts, still aren't interested in building an academy there. THEY DON'T WANT TO SPEND. The Phils did this out of loyalty to Jr. and his father, and to satisfy MLB's minority hiring desires.
    Ron
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:53 PM, 11/02/2008
    How can any of you make a judgement on this? What information do you have that the World Series champs do not have? Give me a break. Good luck Amaro. Bring us some more.
    joedadd
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:09 PM, 11/02/2008
    What a buzz kill. This is the proverbial son of the boss, in effect. Gillick afd Arbuckle are guys with good instincts and gut feelings. Guys like Amaro and Ed Wade are patsies. Look at Wade in Houston without Arbuckle. An unmitigated disaster about to happen.
    fakeplastic
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:08 PM, 11/02/2008
    Jman, Charlie's first job with the Phillies was as an special assistant. He later became a manager.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:05 PM, 11/02/2008
    The farm system was in disarray went Arbuckle was hired. I repeat, Dallas Green took a lot of good scouts an minor league personnel with him to Chicago, including legendary super scout Hugh Alexander. Another reason our farm system is not as good as others is because we don't spend enough money in Latin America. We are a the bottom in that regard. Another reason we are at the bottom is because so many Ed Wades bad trades where he included a lot of prospects. Arbuckle had nothing to do with that.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:00 PM, 11/02/2008
    That didn't take long. Same short-sighted crowd that said Gillick was past his prime when he came here,said Munuael fell off a turnip truck, said Hamels was a prima donna when he wanted a chiropractor, booed Howard in July... Who did Gillick acknowledge for building the nucleus after they beat the Dodgers? Ed Wade. Most of you deserve to wait another 28 years.
    pennswoods
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:34 PM, 11/02/2008
    Smedkus, don't confuse these negadelphians with facts about the actual state of the farm system in 15 years under Arbuckle. They just want something to complain about. Amaro has the pedigree and was a key guy in getting and keeping Brad Lidge. He deserves support.
    pgcd3
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:20 PM, 11/02/2008
    My wife and I went to Champions Field at Wide World of Sports at Disney last spring training to watch the Braves and the Phils in a spring training game. On the way out after the game we followed Pat Gillick and Mike Arbuckle. Mike was weighted down with the tools of the scout with a big black bag probably containing a speed gun, laptop, scouting notes etc. I never saw Amaro anywhere. Then at a Reading game on a warm summer night, I watched Amaro last an inning or two behind home plate watching Tyson Brummett before he started glad handing with the Reading GM until returning later in the game. Monty chose a showhorse over a workhorse. The PC choice over the right choice!
    Dull
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:58 AM, 11/02/2008
    Very smart man who has lived baseball his entire life. All you naysayers will br proved wrong. It was win-win for Phils between Arbuckle and Amaro, and long term this will be a great move...
    AmblerJ
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:50 AM, 11/02/2008
    Yeah Yeah, all you guys that said that Gillick was a stiff raise your hand. So now you come down on the new guy.....typical
    chollie
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:45 AM, 11/02/2008
    Amaro JR is an extremely poor decision. I have no confidence in his abilities. Arbuckle knows players abilities. The Phillies are moving in the wrong direction here. Dallas Green was the Director of Scouting and Minor League System before he became GM. The Phillies must stick with what works and Amaro does not fit. Getting rid of Arbuckle is a huge mistake and seals the Phillies fate.
    jpelle36
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:35 AM, 11/02/2008
    Bad move!A yes man is the last thing we need after losing Gillick and now Arbuckle who was the man who brought in the talent that won it all.
    TomEBoy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:34 AM, 11/02/2008
    Let's face it, if Arbuckle were Hispanic and Amaro were Caucasian then who do you think would have gotten the job? Would it have been the guy here 15 years or the 43 year old former bat boy? Through affirmative action the Phillies get to be socially responsible "inclusive" business model that the guilt-ridden elitists have been clamoring for. He may end up being a great GM, but based on apparent merit and qualification the wrong guy got passed over.
    guyguy4
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:31 AM, 11/02/2008
    My worry is that all the expert talent evaluators will leave with Arbuckle and grow another loser organization into a winner somewhere else. Guess the jury will be out until we find out about the collateral damage. For what it's worth, it seems that Arbuckle had a very large part in getting the Phils to this point. Would it have hurt to have co-GM's?...Amaro could have handled contracts/waiver claims/negotiations and Arbuckle could have handled all the talent aspects, scouting/drafting/minor leagues, etc......would have been a win-win for the organization and started a new trend in sports.....
    Mark1npt
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:20 AM, 11/02/2008
    Y'know, it might not be a bad idea to wait till he screws up before lynching him . Granted, we're all basking in the glow of being champs and this ownership hasn't done much that deserves praise over the past 25 years or so, but at least give him a year
    Tracer41
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:20 AM, 11/02/2008
    Y'know, it might not be a bad idea to wait till he screws up before lynching him . Granted, we're all basking in the glow of being champs and this ownership hasn't done much that deserves praise over the past 25 years or so, but at least give him a year
    Tracer41
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:57 AM, 11/02/2008
    The bigger issue here is that we are losing a great baseball man in Arbuckle. He was responsible, not Ed Wade, for reviving the moribund farm system. He brought us Rolen, Rollins, Wolf, Burrell, Cole Hamels, Madson and Utely (when some in the organization wanted Rocco Baldelli), etc. Another issue is, how many of the current scouts he worked for so long will leave with him when he gets a chance somewhere else not matter in what capacity, which he will. Remember when Dallas Green left to Chicago and took our best scouts? Thanks God Lee Thomas hired Arbuckle to straight things out. Now he is gone.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:57 AM, 11/02/2008
    To all those comments trashing Amaro; Why don't you give him a chance? A season or two will be more then enough time for him to make his mark on the Phillies,(for better or worse)also, he was'nt in the position that Arbuckle was to make moves and deals. And you could do a lot worse then to have someone like Gillick teaching you the ins and outs of the trade.Finally, I'll take Reuben's "yes man" Loyalty any day over someone who's Loyalty is open to the highest bidder.
    Tom Nye
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:28 AM, 11/02/2008
    mike I - It doesn't matter how many World Series the Phillies are in, if Ryan Howard wants A-Rod money (i.e. 27 Million a year) that Phillies will never be able to afford it.
    Conshy04
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:26 AM, 11/02/2008
    I am going to go on a limb here and say that the Phillies earned our trust on this decision. It would seem that the best move would be to bring Arbuckle in as a GM, but perhaps his talents are more on evaluating unproven talents and not with present day GM related decisions.. Either way World Champion = free pass on this decision.. Now Amaro better not screw this up!!
    Conshy04
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:40 AM, 11/02/2008
    We'll see how well Amaro is when the arbitration meetings come about. If he keeps playing tightwad, then this could be the lst series we celebrate for a while. After 3+ million in attendance and the cahmpionship, the Phillies ahve enough $$ to make some decent offers.
    mike l
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:39 AM, 11/02/2008
    WOW!!! It's great to see that positive VIBE has carried over from the WORLD SERIES!!! This why some Philadelphians truely are front runners! Give the guy a chance, his whole life has been around Baseball. Keep the positive feeling going and support our new GM! Maybe we can continue to build on this, but pulling the man down before he starts doesn't help. Don't be a Negadelphian!
    kenkane
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:39 AM, 11/02/2008
    Since all of you negative posters have such an integral knowledge of what is going on behind closed doors of the organization, you must be right. Amaro has no chance! The Phillies will be doomed and never win again. The Phillies have been World F'n Champs for less then a week and you are already turning. Go back to bashing McNabb and the Eagles, oh wait , you don't what you're talking about there either.
    PhilliesFool
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:34 AM, 11/02/2008
    You negadelphians are pathetic! The Phillies just won a World Championship! They hired a guy who: 1. Was born and raised in Philly 2. Grew up spending time with the Phillies during the Dallas Green era 3. Graduated from Stanford 4. Played for the team 5. Was 2nd in command to the two GMs credited with building this team. Did I mention the Phillies just won the first Philly Championship in 25 years? And some of you are whining. That's just sad.
    pgcd3
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:31 AM, 11/02/2008
    Let's give the guy a chance. I'm going to be positive and assume we have another Theo Epstein. If he turns out to be another Ed Wade I'll probably jump out a window.
    EGCPA
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:19 AM, 11/02/2008
    How 'bout giving the guy a chance? Not even a World Series victory can turn you nay-sayers around. Time will tell...given Ruben a shot.
    Phront_Runner
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:14 AM, 11/02/2008
    Whining is all I see here in these comments. The Phillies still have their core team that won, nothing is going to change that. Give the guy a chance, he has done nothing to deserve scorn. While Arbuckle did a great job scouting and drafting he was not alone in making those decisions. Everyone has been talking how great Gillick is, when the core of this team was built under the Ed Wade era. Gillick added a few small key additions.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:00 AM, 11/02/2008
    Its over. Leave it to the Phillies to take you so high, just to bring you back down. See you on Broad ST. befor 2040 if we are lucky.
    two pizzas
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:42 AM, 11/02/2008
    I wonder how many of you people thought Charlie Manuel was a bad hire. I'll admit I was one of them. Why don't you give him a chance to do his job before you throw him under the bus?
    ErikT
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:34 AM, 11/02/2008
    Boy you people really know nothing about this organization. Arbuckle has done very little, he is getting accolades for Ed Wade's moves. He has also not helped our farm system which is a mess right now, very poor communication. Bet you Amaro addresses that right away. Do some research before you speak and take a look at what Amaro has orchestrated this past year alone. Gillick has beeb an absentee landlord, Amaro has put most of this years team together. Don't you think Montgomery knows who has been the most beneficial???
    12345
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:04 AM, 11/02/2008
    Consistency is exactly what got this organization in trouble for 25 years. They didn't win until they went out of the organization and got Arbuckle in 92 and then Gillick 15 years later. Wade was an insider and look what that got them. Losing. Amaro is a Wade clone. There is nobody left in the organization to challenge them when they are wrong. No organization wins with all yes men unless the owners are willing to outspend their mistakes.
    rds260
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:04 AM, 11/02/2008
    Consistency is exactly what got this organization in trouble for 25 years. They didn't win until they went out of the organization and got Arbuckle in 92 and then Gillick 15 years later. Wade was an insider and look what that got them. Losing. Amaro is a Wade clone. There is nobody left in the organization to challenge them when they are wrong. No organization wins with all yes men unless the owners are willing to outspend their mistakes.
    rds260
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:48 AM, 11/02/2008
    Typical hiring of another yes man. They needed to go outside and get a fresh perspective. Nepotism does not bulid winners.
    richw38
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:23 AM, 11/02/2008
    Of course I'll hope for the best with Amaro even though I wished (against hope) for Arbuckle. Whatever team ends up with Arbuckle will build a solid farm system. Amaro in his quotes does seem to have an arrogant, pompous attitude. He doesn't strike me as one who would go out on a limb...that he'd always do the safe sure thing which is not good enough. i'll look at it optimistically in that he's now his own man stepping into the lead role, that he does have a Stanford education and good rapport with latinos.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:13 AM, 11/02/2008
    Never thought Arbuckle had enough tact for GM position
    coachbruce
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 7:11 AM, 11/02/2008
    Couldn't they have waited? Why announce it now and squelch any positive vibes from the Championship? Amaro is a smug mama's boy born with a silverspoon in his mouth.
    Leron
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:47 AM, 11/02/2008
    Come on Philly. All these negative vibes. That will just lead to another 28 years of futility. Maybe just maybe Amaro has acquired some of the Gallic / Arbuckles magic. Lets give the guy a chance and support him.
    Pomp
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:18 AM, 11/02/2008
    Those who think this is a bad decision have no basis for that conclusion. Amaro has been the mover/shaker for most of the moves that Gillick gets credit for. And while Arbuckle is a good guy, do a tally of all of his draft picks and see what his success rate is -- not that good with lots more misses than hits I believe -- really the same as most organizations do in the crap shoot that is the MLB draft. And player development, although there are some success stories, has not been the Phillies strength either. I believe Amaro will be very solid and help us move to a state of continued excellence - he has shown himself to be a good manager, talent evaluator, communicator, maintainer of good contacts, etc. But only time will tell for sure.
    wheels
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:41 AM, 11/02/2008
    can you say gm wheels?
    natedog
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:26 AM, 11/02/2008
    "The graveyard is full of indispensible men." Charles deGaulle
    drbob456
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 2:37 AM, 11/02/2008
    You guys are unreal!!! The franchise just won a WORLD SERIES, and you already dismissing their choice of GM. Can we give Amaro two years??? No wonder Philly fans are talked about so negatively.
    jeffmacnow1234
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:52 AM, 11/02/2008
    Amaro will be as effective a GM as he was a ballplayer. That should tell you everything you wanted to know about this latest yes man in a series of yes men. I watched Ruben Amaro Sr. play second base back in the early 60's at Connie Mack Stadium. He played a decent 2nd base but as a hitter, he was constantly in the low 200's. His son will be in the lower 200's as a GM. He was hired because his nose is stained brown. Period. I personally think he is a pompous, no-nothing yes man. Arbuckle, Wade, (sorry), and Gillick put this team together. It's documented. What has Amaro Jr. done, other than being Ruben Sr.'s son?
    eagles7777
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:48 AM, 11/02/2008
    I really think the Phillies made the wrong decision here. Arbuckle has much more experience and seemed to me to be the better candidate for the job. I don't expect much from the Phillies until Amaro is replaced by a real GM.
    JimSeitz
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:14 AM, 11/02/2008
    Amen, Leron, second the motion on Amaro. As anyone who's seen his appearances on Daily News Live can attest, Amaro is combative and arrogant, as if he's actually done something. Oh, sorry - he introduced Brad Lidge! Wow! I'm sick of hearing about how he's bi-lingual and that he graduated from Stanford, as if this somehow makes him more qualified than Arbuckle. It doesn't. All that counts is the ability to judge and acquire talent; Arbuckle's done it and Amaro hasn't, end of story. If he had, they'd be naming the talent he sniffed out instead of blabbing on all the time about where he went to college and how many languages he speaks. All I know is that Amaro's interviewed with several teams for GM vacancies and was never offered any of the jobs, which tells you all you need to know about him. Since the day Gillick announced that he'd be leaving, I've been dreading this day. Arbuckle was SCREWED and we fans will be worse off for it. I'm pissed!
    ChiliPete
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:21 AM, 11/02/2008
    Hopefully he learned enough under Gillick to know what to do. I'm trying not to judge him for being a loyal number 2 to Wade.
    geoffrobinson
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 1:01 AM, 11/02/2008
    Yes, because we all know the Phillies will NEVER win a World Series with this ownership......Oh That's right :)
    flyersfan74
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:54 AM, 11/02/2008
    pgcd, "jman, Arbuckle is clearly more experienced in what? All I've seen is references to drafting." Are you serious? After DECADES of having a non-productive farm system, the Phillies have finally won, and the core is almost exclusively home-grown players (for the first time since 1980). How can you possibly minimize Arbuckle's (and the draft's) contributions? Unreal. You Amaro guys should have a party. Let's see what Ruben does with regard to Burrell, and whether he will sit tight with Feliz or go out and get a banger at 3B who also has defensive skills. How he addresses the LF and 3B situations will indicate what we're in for over the next several years (decisive risk-taking vs. comfy status quo). In any case, let's all bask in the championship.
    jman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:41 AM, 11/02/2008
    Negadelphia rules again. Why don't you wait and see how this guy does. People in this town are incredible. I thought that the Phillies winning the world series might change some attitudes, but you guys fall back into the same negative rut. unbelievable.
    DE_Gene
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:21 AM, 11/02/2008
    jman, Arbuckle is clearly more experienced in what? All I've seen is references to drafting. Baseball GMs handle a lot of trades, contract negotiations and arbitration. I haven't seen Arbuckle connected to any of that. And it relevant that a 58-yr old guy never got hired as GM anywhere else. Listen Arbuckle might be a great GM but I don't see how he's more qualified and it doesn't look like any other MLB team considered him more qualified either. The Yes man comments are just dumb. What assistant GM in any sport, Amaro or Arbuckle, comes out and publically disagrees with their boss?
    pgcd3
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:11 AM, 11/02/2008
    pgcd, Where was Amaro a finalist? Pittsburgh and Houston? Pittsburgh's a wasteland, and the Astros ended up signing Wade, so those two opportunities aren't anything to boast about.
    jman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:05 AM, 11/02/2008
    carlodD980, The point is, if someone were starting up a team, Ed Wade would not be on the short list for GM (unless the owners were operating on the cheap).
    jman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:01 AM, 11/02/2008
    pgcd3, In your attempts to belittle Arbuckle, you are making nonsensical analogies. Arbuckle's interviews (or lack of) with other teams is irrelevant to the discussion. He was passed over BY THE PHILLIES in favor of Gillick, and now in favor of Amaro. This by a team that historically stays 'in-house'. Your attemps to inject the relevance of the GM hirings by other teams makes no sense. Also, I have no attachment to Arbuckle. He clearly is the more experienced of the two, that's all. It's clear though, thet Amaro (being younger and hungrier) is more likely to be a yes-man than Arbuckle. So that (and $$$) is probably the deciding factor.
    jman
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:54 PM, 11/01/2008
    Rich_gelman: You should check your facts before posting. 1) All the best players do not speak Spanish; 2) Giles got his job by assembling some cronies and local businessmen into a group that purchased the Phillies from the Carpenters. His father was not the NL president then. Using your logic, Manuel was hired as manager because Jim Thome said to.
    jman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:54 PM, 11/01/2008
    jman, I guess every other team that has hired a GM in the last 15 years screwed Arbuckle too by not even considering him. Amaro may or may not succeed but this irrational attachment to Arbuckle makes no sense.
    pgcd3
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:47 PM, 11/01/2008
    Blackacre: Easy on the Ed Wade praise! Burrell was the best player in the country, and the Phillies had the #1 overall pick. What 'drafting skill' did that pick take? Also, don't forget that Wade nearly traded Howard when he couldn't decide between Howard and Thome). Still, props to Wade for unloading Lidge on us for a bag of beans!
    jman
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:40 PM, 11/01/2008
    Arbuckle has been screwed twice now! Expect him to move on. (They could have promoted both - Arbuckle to full GM, and Amaro to 1st assistant GM in charge of the farm system & Latin America (or some such glitzy title). Arbuckle will now leave and take his farm system savvy with him. (maybe joining Gillick somewhere?)
    jman
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:32 PM, 11/01/2008
    Affirmative action in action.
    rds260
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:31 PM, 11/01/2008
    Remember when Ruben first came up to replace an injured Lenny Dykstra and hit about .500 for a week? We loved him then, but it's been hard to warm up to him ever since. It's hard to shake the perception that he's been anything but groomed to be a Yes Man since his bat boy days. The guy's been tainted by his Ed Wade ties and a likely secret initiation ceremony conducted by the old Gang of Six before Wade. Maybe he can't help it, but he comes off as pompous. In the glow of the World Series, I'll trust that our perceptions are as wrong as they've often been about key leaders for this team in recent years! Be wise, Ruben.
    frankenslade
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:30 PM, 11/01/2008
    You Arbuckle guys crack me up. They mention 5 guys he's drafted in 15 years and you think he's capable of being GM. Amaro was a finalist for other 2 GM jobs at 43 already. I haven't heard Arbuckle on anyone's shortlist at 58. Have faith in Dave Montgomery to pick the correct candidate.
    pgcd3
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:30 PM, 11/01/2008
    What a huge mistake. Arbuckle built the Braves Juggernaut then came here and drafted all these players and this is how we reward him, by replacing him with a yes man without an ounce of talent evaluation abilities. Enjoy this championship because after these players leave or get old, it will be a long time until we have another winning Phillies team.
    rds260
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:22 PM, 11/01/2008
    No shocker. Everybody knew he was next in line. Give him a chance. You never know!
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:21 PM, 11/01/2008
    I guess I'll defend the guy-- play devil's advocate. I had hoped for Arbuckle, or Chuck LaMar, for a while now. If you don't know who Chuck LaMar is, than you have no right really to judge Amaro. But that said, the Phillies have always been a team of family. Even Giles himself got his job cause his Dad was President of the National League. But it's not that. Amaro's an intelligent guy, with heavy relations in Latin America. If you hadn't noticed, the best MLB players speak spanish as a primary language. That could definitely help in some situations...like resigning Pedro Feliz. At least this gives me hope of being signed as GM within the next 5 years. They'll use Amaro to liquidate the team, and then once he has that bad reputation, I'll step in and bring us the next parade. Overall, Amaro, bad choice. But I tried the Devil's advocate thing, for once.
    rich_gelman
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:46 PM, 11/01/2008
    Big mistake. I wanted Arbuckle to get the job, he deserved it, he's done an excellent job and has all the qualifications for the job. We get arrogant Amaro who acts like he built the team, wait till you catch some of this clowns moves. Way to take the shine off the chrome Dave.
    bigtbone
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:39 PM, 11/01/2008
    Oh Sh*t...it's Ed Wade part II !!!
    Big Ragu
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:27 PM, 11/01/2008
    Buzzkill!
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:24 PM, 11/01/2008
    I meant 2stepbay and glensider, not 2stepbay and wingslaw. Leron, who cares if Amaro is pompous? He's there to draft and trade players, not to make you feel nice. We won't know if he was the right choice for a couple of years.
    sil campusano
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:22 PM, 11/01/2008
    Stereotype much, 2stepbay and wingslax? Amaro grew up in Rhawnhurst and his mom is Jewish. He went to Penn Charter and Stanford. I don't know if he'll be a good GM or not but he's as American as apple pie.
    sil campusano
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:08 PM, 11/01/2008
    The right man for the job is leaving town. That should have been Arbuckle's job. Amaro is the phillies lapdog. At least he can he can say yes in two languages.
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:01 PM, 11/01/2008
    BIG MISTAKE.. Should have hired Arbuckle... Well at least we won this year... IT could be another 28 years :>(
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:57 PM, 11/01/2008
    Only time will tell if Amaro will be successful. However, I am concerned. When you see the names of the players signed by and/or drafted by Arbuckle, it makes my cringe to think he will soon be gone. It seems that the championship teams that dominate an era involve homegrown talent - See Yankees of the late 90's and early 00's. If Arbuckle is gone, who is in charge of scouting and development. Sure he had his misses, but this World f***'n Championship Team is his.
    rs505
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:54 PM, 11/01/2008
    A very poor decision. Mainly hired cause of his Phillies connection. Arbuckle was an outsider brought in. Amaro is a yes man who is an Ed Wade clone.
    wingslax35
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:38 PM, 11/01/2008
    This guy brings pompousness to a whole new level. If you think Andy Reid is bad, just wait till you hear this guy.
    Leron
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:38 PM, 11/01/2008
    Initially, this looks like a sweetheart deal, the Amaro long term connection with the Phillies. Amaro really hasn't made any of his 'own' deals yet. All of those were Arbuckle and Gillick - Arbuckle deserved the job, but he'll move on and be ok elsewhere. Perhaps Amaro will be like a Theo Epstein in Boston, who knows? Maybe he won't be an effect GM, time will tell, most of the team was in place by our old GM Ed Wade. Ed's contributions were plenty. Time will tell, we still have a lot to be happy about.
    phillywebcast
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 9:18 PM, 11/01/2008
    Amaro will prove effective in the GM role. Certainly will enhance/strengthen the Phillies connection to Latin America and its great pool of talent.
    2stepbay
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:31 PM, 11/01/2008
    Huge mistake. Ughhhhh. Thank god we won this year, cause with this guy, we'll never make the moves needed to get over the top again.
    JPK512
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:30 PM, 11/01/2008
    From an outsiders view, Arbuckle is more experienced for the job. What does Amaro bring to the table that Arbuckle doesn't ?
    JohnO
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  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 8:20 PM, 11/01/2008
    It's good we won a World Series. It will be the last under the present setup. They just hired a YES man !
    phineas


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