Let me take you back to the end of the 2005 season. Remember when the Phillies had finally had enough of Ed Wade? Phillies fans everywhere took the news of Wade's firing with cautious optimism.
Why?
While Ed Wade was bad his possible replacement wasn't seen to be much better. It was believed that the Phillies were grooming Ruben Amaro Jr. for the position. The feeling was "more of the same," from the Phillies as Amaro was deemed a "yes man" by many. So you can imagine how reaction to his possible hiring was less then exciting from the fan base.
Then along came Pat Gillick, and Amaro kept his previous title. Another GM to learn from, one with more experience and one with much more success under his belt. In three seasons Gillick taught Amaro the ropes and some tricks along the way.
So far Amaro's best moves have been one he made and also one he didn't make. Pushed to the limit by Toronto, Amaro didn't budge. He didn't panic, nor did he worry about the backlash from the media or fans if he didn't pull the trigger on a trade for Roy Halladay.
Instead he did one better, he made a trade for reigning Cy Young winner Cliff Lee, while also acquiring a much needed right hand bat in Ben Francisco. And he pulled this deal off without giving up J.A. Happ, Kyle Drabek, Dominic Brown or Michael Taylor. Seems as if Amaro learned an awful lot from Pat Gillick. In his first year as GM he's made many un-Ed Wade like moves. Ed Wade wasn't nearly as bad as he was made out too be though.
His biggest flaw was his inability to pull the trigger on big deals and his unwillingness to trade away top prospects. Wade was terrified of a move blowing up in his face, so he resorted to measly waiver-deadline deals, remember Kelly Stinnett? So even if the Phils were contenders he was unable to add the parts necessary to put the Phils over the top. A GM who didn't take risks, therefore he was also a GM who didn't win.
Right now we're watching the beginning of something special. Your defending World Series Champions have just made a solid move that makes them the favorites to represent the NL once again. A team with swagger, whose unafraid and most importantly a team with a GM whose not holding them back, but helping them along the way.
