Phillies chairman David Montgomery appeared this morning on Power Alley with Mike Ferrin and Jim Duquette on MLB Network Radio. Montgomery spoke of a number of issues, but two really stuck out: whether the Phillies were making decisions based upon attendance, and whether or not Ruben Amaro, Jr. has a future with the Phillies organization. The Amaro comments were not exactly a ringing endorsement of their general manager.
First, Montgomery addressed the question as to whether or not the Phillies are making baseball decisions based on attendance. After staying that his "yes" to a reporter's question a while back was understanted, Montgomery explained:
"We aren't making decisions based on attendance, but we are cognizant of the fact that people are buying tickets from us, and the obligation we have to them is to do everything we can to win as many games as possible both now and in the future…whatever you're doing you're trying to be good not just for today but also tomorrow."
As for the future of Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr., Montgomery spoke highly of Amaro, but was not willing to necessarily 100% endorse him, either.
"We think we have a pretty quality guy in that role, but at the same time, I have a partnership group…they are looking at this closely as well, and the reality of this is that we have a GM we think is effective and we have a Hall of Fame GM in our midst as well, and if Pat spends an entire year or two working closely with Ruben he'll have a very good idea how effective Ruben is, and collectively a decision will be made."
Amaro has just 2015 remaining on his contract, making him a lame duck. From the sounds of Montgomery, Gillick and Montgomery are in Amaro's corner, but ownership is not. After this season, Gillick may make a recommendation to the owners, either pleading Amaro's case or not. Then again, the next president may wish to bring his (or her) own general manager into the fold.
Listen to both segments of the interview below:
