I don't know what I'm doing!

I don’t know what I’m doing!

I was all set to pose a question to everyone here, asking if it would be worse in your mind if (A.) Ruben becomes a buyer at the trade deadline or (B.) Ruben does nothing at the trade deadline. For me, we break even with both of those, and continue to float in this purgatory of five or ten games under .500 play. But for Ruben, it’s not that clear.

Ruben told the WIP Morning Show this morning that he will “have a much better idea at the all-star break” on whether he should buy or sell, and is evaluating the situation. He also addressed Dave Montgomery’s thoughts from over the weekend, saying:

“In our marketplace, and with what our fan base is all about, I don’t think [a total rebuild] is fair. I don’t think it’s fair to them. I don’t think it’s fair to our organization. I don’t think it’s fair to the players on the field.”

What Ruben doesn’t seem to understand (or does but doesn’t want to acknowledge) is entering into a rebuild scenario is at least showing some sort of direction. It’s also showing an acknowledgement of some mistakes, which may be Amaro’s real sticking point with the whole thing. Sure, selling and starting from the ground up will hurt your attendance numbers, but so will wallowing in mediocrity for who knows however many years and then having to rebuild down the line anyway. Any attempt at becoming a buyer or anything short of selling at least some pieces is just a postponement of the inevitable. And your fanbase will be a lot more forgiving of a ten-game under .500 record when it’s a bunch of young prospects on the field that are heading in an upwards direction. Ruben by no means has to get rid of everyone, but if he wants the Phillies to have a promising future, he has to recognize that this isn’t the core of that future.