Amaro apologizes for saying fans 'don't understand'

NEW YORK - Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. apologized Tuesday for comments critical of the team's fans, citing a poor choice of words in explaining the organization's conservative process with its top minor-league pitching prospects.

In an interview with CSNPhilly.com, Amaro said in response to a question about fans who want the Phillies to more aggressively promote their prospects: "They don't understand the game. They don't understand the process.

"There's a process," he continued. "And then they bitch and complain because we don't have a plan. There's a plan in place and we're sticking with the plan. We can't do what's best for the fan. We have to do what's best for the organization so the fan can reap the benefit of it later on. That's the truth."

Amaro apologized for the comments about fans while speaking Tuesday night before the game against the New York Mets at Citi Field.

"I'm a fan myself, and I understand the passion and the knowledge that our fans have for our game and the other major sports and all the sports in Philly," he said. "The comments weren't meant to disparage our fans by any stretch of the imagination. I probably used my words incorrectly or poorly. So I want to apologize for that."

He added: "Our job is to try to make sure that the fans love this club for a long time. We have to do what we can to put our team in a position for the fans to enjoy it."

The words from the much-maligned GM incited a firestorm on social media. The Phillies, in the first year of their roster rebuilding, are taking it slowly with their prospects, including 21-year-old righthanders Aaron Nola and Zach Eflin, both experiencing success with double-A Reading.

"I'm as excited about seeing them in the big leagues as anybody else," Amaro said. "But there's a process they have to go through. There's a process and a plan in place. I think that was more the point. I understand why the fans would want [to see them] because we're not having a ton of success at the major-league level right now. But I think it's incumbent upon the organization to make sure we do it at the right time and do it with the right plan in place."