I imagine this is how the conversation went a few months ago when the Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com decided to lay off both of its main Phillies beat writers, Ryan Lawrence and Jake Kaplan:

Newspaper mogul 1: Whaddya say about this Lawrence cat?

Newspaper mogul 2: Nice guy. Good reporter. One of most professional and social media adept in the city. Knows the beat inside and out, like a great swing partner. Let him go!

NM1: Bully! How about this Kaplan fellow?

NM 2: Won’t need him while the boys are away at war. Pink slip telegram for him, too.


NM1: Now we’re cracking! Who’s covering the Phils this year?

NM 2: I don’t know. I thought he was on first?

Matt Gelb:

Things have changed here, too. I return today to the Phillies beat for The Inquirer, Daily News and Philly.com after 376 days of writing news and features in the city. Matt Breen, who covered baseball last season as a keen rookie, will join me.

Gelb on first. Breen on second. I Don’t Know’s on third.