Steve Phillips Attempts To Garner Sympathy For Nearly Every Major League Baseball Player

I am not sure what is my favorite part about a Steve Phillips column. I don't know if it is what he actually writes in the column that I get to make fun or it is the fact no one comments on what he writes, and if they do comment it is usually very negative towards Phillips. It's a tough decision to decide my favorite part. Today, Steve Phillips tells us all how trades have a far-reaching impact on a team and how, get this, a team can do whatever they want with a player! That never happens in any other employee-employer relationship in any other profession. Wait, yes it does. Oh, and Phillips also uses his GM knowledge (or lack thereof) to tell us secrets about the MLB trade deadline.

With the trade deadline approaching, there are rumors flying everywhere about this player and that player. It is hard to know what is true and what is not.

Anything that ESPN reports is generally not true until it has been announced publicly or confirmed by another sports network. Even though ESPN isn't wrong too much more often compared to other sports outlets, I just like to go by this general rule.

Rumors and speculation put players on a roller-coaster as well. They wonder how it will affect their role, playing time, future contract negotiations, trade status, etc. They wonder if this will be the year that they will win it all. It is enough to cloud even the most disciplined player's mind.

Here's the part where I start comparing baseball players to real average employees and don't give them any sympathy.

I know it is a bit discomforting to know that you as a baseball player may have to join a new team or live in a new town, but at least when you move places of employment in baseball you know you still have a job (unless you are the player being replaced of course). That's more than a lot of people can say. Some people just lose their job when their company sucks and isn't successful in the marketplace, as opposed to getting traded to another company.

Rather than wondering where your next job will be physically located, imagine if baseball players who are good enough to be traded had to constantly worry if they would have a job at all? That would suck. I hate that baseball players have to have their incredibly important job clouded by any uncertainty about the future. What a shame! Americans (and others throughout the world) who have lost their job over the last two years feel terrible about this.

So that's a little perspective for when Steve Phillips starts getting all warm and fuzzy for how baseball players whose names pop up in trade rumors have their entire lives moved around. The average employee in the United States has job responsibility added/taken away, their office moved around, are denied pay raises despite showing they merit one and have no light at the end of the tunnel in three years when they can't be a free agent like baseball players can. In general 70% of workers can't choose which company they work for because many average workers don't have a specialized enough skill set to warrant this type of attention from companies

For me personally, I never fucking know when my mom will make her way up to the attic and force me to go outside in the sunlight. This definitely clouds my mind.

One of the biggest triggers for ballplayers is reading and hearing about their names being involved in trades. Players are creatures of habit. They need a certain routine and plan for each day. The specter of a trade sends all that into tumult.

"I may get traded to Seattle today. Should I brush my teeth or take a shower in the morning or afternoon? Where is my dog at? Should I feed him today if I hear I may be traded to the Marlins?"

What will happen to their families? How will their wives handle the trade and the move with the kids to a new town?

"I hope I don't get traded to the Dodgers. I have two women in LA that I usually trade-off seeing while I am out there. If my wife ends up out there, that's just too many women. What will happen if I run into one of my on-the-side ladies at the coffee shop with my wife? Do I hug her? Do I ignore her? Will my wife accept my reason for knowing her? Where the hell is the dog at? If he poops in the living room should I clean it up if I am getting traded to the Cardinals today?"

Will they know anyone on the new team? Will they get traded while on the road or at home?

"If I go to a new team, will they let me pee in the shower? My previous team had no problem with this, but will the new team like it? Does anyone on the Rangers speak English? I know Josh Hamilton liked to party, but he quit doing that. Now that Justin Smoak got traded are there any other English-speaking guys my age on the team? Shit, I have an on-the-side lady in Texas too. What if my wife runs into her? I can't make an excuse for why I know a woman who barely speaks English and works as a hotel maid. That's just obvious I am fucking her. Where the hell is the dog at? He was right here earlier licking himself! Should I get him a new bowl of water for the day if I am getting traded to Texas?"

When I was a general manager and players approached me about trade rumors involving them I almost always handled them the same way.

"Yes, I am trading you for an old-washed up veteran. Trust me, you will be better off on your new team."

I would not tell the player that the rumors were true or not. On the other hand, I never felt I could tell one of my guys when the rumors weren't true either. If I had told them when they weren't true but didn't tell them when the rumors were true then they would be able to figure out what might happen.

I bet he realized this when a player told him he did this as a General Manager. He probably only told them when the rumors weren't true and then a player informed him this didn't make sense to do. You can't get anything past Steve Phillips. You may think you can, but you can't. Fool him once and it was his fault for trading for Mo Vaughn, fool him twice and you end up with Roy Oswalt on your team in exchange for Stephen Strasburg and a couple other prospects.

Trade rumors have an impact on the team just as they do individuals. Even when players aren't mentioned in the rumors they have a reaction to it. In some cases they worry for their friends. In other cases they get excited about the possibility of bringing in an impact player that can help the team win. Still others worry about whether they might be next.

Well gosh Steve, I hate that all these well-paid athletes have these concerns that they may have to switch teams and be apart from their friends. If only they worked in the real world where they could make less money and probably have a job that slowly eats at their soul and will to exist. That's what they get for choosing baseball over getting a job in the real world, the pain of knowing they will be well-paid on a team without their friends.

Take for example the Cliff Lee trade which took place between Seattle and Texas. This deal alone impacted players in both cities but also impacted players on both New York teams and Minnesota.

Now Steve Phillips goes down a list of player whose feelings may have been hurt by the possible trade of Lee to the Yankees and Twins. Let's join him in this pity-fest.

Certainly the Mariners' players had an emotional reaction in that they realized their season was effectively over when the Lee negotiations started.

As if the 35-52 record on July 10th wasn't a strong indication of the fact the season was over prior to the trade negotiations starting.

Casey Kotchman, who had been getting most of the at bats at first base, must feel anger and frustration as his playing time is now gone due to the acquisition of Justin Smoak.

So we aren't supposed to think this is justified though? He can be angry all he wants, but the Mariners traded for a young and better first baseman than Casey Kotchman currently is. I can't feel bad for a first baseman that gets replaced because he isn't a good hitter. The Mariners need hitters badly.

If anyone has seen Kotchman play, how old do you think he is? I would have guessed 30 years old, but he is 27 years old and Smoak is outplaying him this year as a 23 year old. Kotchman has no reason to be angry with anyone but himself for Smoak getting traded to the Mariners.

Felix Hernandez must feel fear and uncertainty because if one ace was traded he might be next.

This is stupid. Felix knows he isn't going anywhere. Lee was in the last year of his contract while Felix Hernandez is younger and under contract for next year.

Russell Branyan, who was just acquired from Cleveland, must have wondered whether he would be turned around in another deal somewhere since the selling had begun.

I am sure Branyan was really concerned he may get traded to a team that is a contender. Imagine the horror of not playing on a sub-.500 team.

Ichiro has to feel frustrated because he must see his remaining productive years wasting away on a non-competitive team.

The clean-up hitter for the Mariners this year was Milton Bradley. I think Ichiro had an idea this wasn't a very good team at the beginning of the year...or perhaps he should have. Unless he was ignoring the talent on the field and was buying into the new defensive philosophy that completely ignored offense.

Catchers Rob Johnson and Josh Bard must have felt some concern since the lead prospects in the highly publicized rumors with the Yankees and Twins were catchers.

They can be concerned, but is it really shocking? Bard has played in 17 games this year and Robinson has an OPS+ of 67. I feel for these players, but at a certain point a player has to know he isn't getting the job done.

Medical issues disrupted the Yankees acquiring Lee. One of the young prospects to be included in the deal hurt his ankle. Talk about impact: that young man will forever be known as the guy who kept the Yankees from getting Cliff Lee. I am withholding his name here for his own protection.

Steve Phillips doesn't know this prospect's name. He can't fool me. Also, this prospect didn't prevent the Yankees from getting Cliff Lee. The Yankees didn't help themselves out by having no other prospects to include in the trade and the Mariners weren't able to help the trade go through because there weren't any prospects they wanted in place of this injured prospect. There is enough blame to go around.

There were two other Yankee prospects mentioned in the rumors as well. They both now understand that the Yankees like them just enough to include them in a deal.

Is there really a Yankees top prospect that doesn't think he will be used as bait to get a proven player in a trade? I would think it would be understood by a Yankees' top prospect there is a good chance his name will appear in trade rumors. I know what Phillips is trying to say, and I also know he is doing it poorly. Trades and other things you can't control are a part of baseball. A young player who rides a bus and stays in shitty hotels on the road while in the minor leagues knows this. I think Phillips is being overly worried about many of these player's feelings.

The Yankees' plan was to acquire Lee and then trade Javier Vazquez to the Phillies for Jayson Werth. How do you think Vazquez feels now? He must be looking over his shoulder.

I am sure Vazquez was REALLY worried he may have to go back to the National League where he absolutely dominated last year as opposed to staying in New York where he is one bad start away from having heavy objects thrown at him as he leaves the field.

In New York, talk radio was abuzz that the Mets had to do anything to get Lee.

Lefty Jon Niese had to be worried when his name was mentioned as someone who would have to be in the deal if it were to happen.

At this point, Phillips is naming teams and players in an effort to call space. I think we get the point, but Phillips is determined to list EVERY player that could be affected by a trade.

Rookie first baseman Ike Davis had to be concerned when his name popped up as a wanted man by the Mariners. Heck, he just got to the big leagues and was expected to be the first baseman of the future in New York. He had to wonder if everything he had heard from the Mets' organization was true or not. Would they possibly trade him?

I am not sure if Ike Davis, who is from Minnesota, really cares if he is the first baseman of the future in New York or Seattle. It is not like he is from New York or anything. Maybe he does care where he plays, but I am not sure the Mets would ever seriously consider trading him since he has played well in his rookie year.

Johan Santana must have had an angry reaction to the fact that everyone said the Mets needed a real No. 1 starter because he was declining in ability.

That's not how it is at all. Santana would probably be happy the Mets have another great pitcher on the roster since it would increase their chances of making the playoffs. I really doubt a pitcher like Santana wouldn't appreciate it if the Mets sign another great pitcher. If the Mets got Cliff Lee it would help their playoff chances out considerably.

Young Josh Thole had to be fearful once he heard that the Mets wouldn't include Davis in the deal but would include him. Plus rumor had it the Mariners wanted a catcher in return. He was a goner.

He wouldn't be a goner out of the major leagues, but a goner to Seattle (insert joke here). Thole has 21 at-bats this year, Steve Phillips is trying to tell me that Thole would not want a chance to play catcher everyday with an MLB team? I don't believe that.

When the Mets didn't get Lee most callers on talk radio started writing off the Mets. How do you think that made the players feel?

Holy Christ, are you kidding me? Is Steve Phillips really concerned about how the Mets players feel about talk radio talking negatively about them? The Mets players should be used to this criticism by now, and even if they weren't this is an incredibly stupid attempt to make a point. Talk radio should have no effect on the feelings of the Mets players.

Nick Blackburn had to really worry when he heard the Twins were interested in Lee as he has been the Twins' most ineffective starting pitcher and would likely loose his spot in the rotation if a deal were consummated.

This may be an actual good point. Still, it is a little bit selfish on the part of Blackburn to worry that the Twins may get Cliff Lee and he won't get a chance to pitch poorly anymore. I know Steve Phillips is being all sentimental in this article, but are we supposed to feel bad for Blackburn that his bad pitching won't be in the starting rotation if the Twins had gotten Lee?

Also, I am not shocked that Phillips can't spell the word "lose," though I am disappointed his editor can't catch the misspelling.

When the Twins saw Lee go to the Rangers it had to be very disappointing. Same old Twins, not making a deal to rent a player even though he could be the difference for this year. Francisco Liriano and Lee would have been tough to beat.

Carl Pavano, who is pitching better than Liriano this year, would also have been tough to beat in the Twins rotation. Not that I would expect Steve Phillips to have known Pavano is pitching well this year.

Mourneau must feel very disappointed as he knows that his days as a Twin are numbered. They can't afford him and Mauer. He doesn't know if he will go to a highly competitive team when he is a free agent. This is his window to win.

Justin Mourneau is 29 years old. When he is a free agent he will have the choice to go to any team he wants, including a team that is a perennial contender. He is still very much in his prime. His window to win is still wide open.

Here are a couple other thoughts I have about the trade deadline:

Always trade for a veteran player who hits a baseball well off a tee after coming off major surgery?

Chemistry is not a reason to stand pat.

Though I am usually adverse to taking into account many things like "chemistry" over acquiring new baseball players, I also believe a happy clubhouse should stay as it is as much as possible, while bringing in a batter or pitcher that is questionable in the clubhouse may not always be a good idea.

Teams that are in a pennant race must make a deal at the deadline or during the waiver period. Teams either get better or get worse, they don't stay the same. When the opposition makes a deal and improves, the players on your team feel like they have gotten worse. Forget chemistry.

I think it is interesting a guy like Steve Phillips, who is judged fairly or unfairly as a guy who put a team of aging players together through trade or free agency, would think that team chemistry isn't that important. It is interesting because the viewpoint he espouses above fits with what he did as the General Manager of the Mets (or what he is perceived to have done), but also he doesn't seem to have learned much from his time with the Mets. I find it interesting he seems to not have changed his philosophy that much.

Phillips is thought to be a GM who threw players together in the hopes they were good enough together to be a good team. I am not sure whether this was a completely fair perception or not. This type of managing a team generally doesn't worry as much about team chemistry and relies on talent to help a team win. I am not overrating team chemistry, but I would think after his failure as the Mets GM he would feel team chemistry and building a team through the farm system with players who have played together would take precedence over making your team better by bringing in guys who may not fit chemistry-wise on the team.

There are far more discussions than there are trades. So if you hear a deal that doesn't make sense, don't overreact. It probably won't happen for exactly the reason you are reacting.

I would hope there are more discussions than trades. It is hard to have more trades than discussions unless teams are just randomly trading players to other teams and the other team is just accepting the players without discussing whether they want the players or not.

I can't imagine the Mariners would be too happy if the Yankees just started trading them players for Cliff Lee without actually discussing what players they want. There is really no other way for there to be anything other than more discussions than there are trades. It's hard to make a trade without a discussion first.

If a deal doesn't look right or feel right there is probably something you don't know about the players involved. General managers rarely explain all of the reasons why certain players are included in deals.

Right. Always assume your GM knows what he is doing. Great advice coming from an ex-GM who got fired.

Finally, sometimes clubs have to take chances to try and win. You just don't know how many opportunities you will get to be a playoff contender. When you get the chance you have to go for it.

Make panic trades!

Why hasn't a team offered their General Manager job to Steve Phillips yet? He doesn't care about team chemistry, he thinks a GM should think his window of opportunity to make the playoffs is one year wide, he feels bad for pitchers who have an ERA above 6.00 (Nick Blackburn) if they get replaced in a trade for a better pitcher, he would trade Stephen Strasburg plus other prospects for Roy Oswalt, and he knows there are more discussions of possible trades than actual trades. This man needs another shot to run a team. Just for hilarity sake.

Finally, sometimes clubs have to take chances to try and win. You just don't know how many opportunities you will get to be a playoff contender. When you get the chance you have to go for it.

Don't blame your GM for his bad trades and ignore the fact he may be incompetent or has decided to trade away your best player for prospects that may pan out. Just be glad he is willing to trade players. Also, be sure to feel bad for all the players on your team who suck and pity them because the team would improve by that person not being in the everyday lineup.