WELL, IF NOTHING else, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro certainly thinks big.
Exactly 1 year ago yesterday, Amaro made a blockbuster move to acquire Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Cliff Lee from Cleveland.
To celebrate that anniversary, all Amaro did yesterday was complete a deal to get standout starting pitcher Roy Oswalt from the Houston Astros.
Considering how valuable a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher is, it is extraordinary that Amaro could make trades involving Lee and Oswalt in one calendar year.
What Amaro has done between July 29, 2009, and July 29, 2010, is unprecedented in baseball history.
On Dec. 16, 2009, Amaro completed a deal with the Toronto Blue Jays for Cy Young Award winning pitcher Roy Halladay.
On the same day, he traded Lee to the Seattle Mariners.
So let's recap this.
In 1 year, Amaro has brought two Cy Young winners to the Phillies and another pitcher who has been considered one of the top 10 in baseball over the past 5 years.
"I think the relief comes from being able to acquire a top-of-the-rotation pitcher," Amaro said while assessing the Oswalt trade. "It's not easy to do that."
Yet, Amaro has managed to do it three times in less than two full seasons as Phillies GM.
I understand a lot of the anger some Phillies fans have directed at Amaro for trading Lee.
And my position has been to agree with those who asked, "Why not Halladay and Lee?"
Still, I chuckle sometimes when I get e-mails, read comments or hear talk-radio callers implying that Amaro is somehow overmatched as a general manager.
At best, he has potentially assembled the best top-of-the-rotation in Phillies history.
At worst, Amaro's dealings have a net value of bringing two top 10 starters to the Phillies while giving up an unproven starter in J.A. Happ and a half-dozen prospects, some of whom are considered high-end and some who are just beginning the process.
If that's overmatched, all of the general managers in Philadelphia should follow Amaro's lead.
I have no doubt that Amaro has heard the criticism, but I also believe him when he says, "I don't listen to it."
"I talk to and they always said, 'You have to look forward.' "
When Amaro replaced the retiring Gillick after the 2008 season, the Phillies were the reigning World Series champs, but their starting rotation was Cole Hamels, Brett Myers, Jamie Moyer, Joe Blanton and Happ.
Gallery: Phils 3, D'Backs 2
Video: Dave Murphy talks Oswalt and streaking Phils
