Thanks @Zrodx88 for the new touch up! You have amazing skills! Everyone should give him a follow! #Astros#madskills pic.twitter.com/WR57W02zkH
— Ken Giles (@KenGiles53) December 13, 2015
Former Phillies Ken Giles was a fan favorite during his short time in Philadelphia. It appears that the City of Philadelphia was a Ken Giles favorite, too. Now that the trade to Houston is finally finalized, Giles was able to address the trade and deliver a message to Philadelphia fans.
Giles posted to his Twitter account the following (sic):
I want to thank the Phillies and the fans for what they have done for me since drafting me in 2011. Always believing in me and my abilities. Everyone in Philly will always know I gave everything and beyond for the city and the team to make them better. I wish nothing but the best for the Phillies and the fans of Philly in the future. I will be watching from a far!
p.s. Fans thanks for booing me for not throwing 100mph on my mlb debut haha loved it!.
It is nice that Giles gets a joke. Former Phillies closer Billy Wagner did not get it.
Wagner complained about the same ironic boos to the Newark Star-Ledger (transcribed on "Can't Stop the Bleeding"):
Those people, it doesn’t matter how successful you are. I don’t get it. They boo you. They scream at you. Anybody who’s going to boo you when you don’t hit 100 miles per hour, what does that tell you? There are some fans who are fantastic, who were very supportive, and made you feel welcome there. But, for the most part, you had the guys who just came to the ballpark to yell at you. If you’re having a bad season there, forget it. You can’t get out of that funk. They won’t allow you to. You have to go into Philadelphia and become so thick- skinned, somebody that you’re not. It’s hard.
Giles did not find it to be so hard.
The Phillies, meanwhile, got a nice little haul in return for Giles. The Astros got themselves a piece sorely needed in their bullpen. The Astros bullpen could not hold a lead that lead to a Kansas City Royals victory in game 5 and ultimately an ALDS loss. Even after acquiring Giles, the Astros may acquire another closer. The high price for Giles could be the difference in 2016.
