All too often, we are reminded that the Phillies have a long history of... let's call it less-than-forward thinking. Often, we hear of instances where the Phillies can be somewhat complacent in their mindset and don't necessarily think outside the box. And while many teams' front offices extend their mindset into an organization-wide philosophy -- think of the "Dodger Way" or the "Yankee Way" -- the Phils seem, at least outwardly, to neglect that aspect of consistent winning. Think about it, as a fan, how would you describe (without sarcasm, mind you) the "Phillies Way"? You get my point.
An example that always comes to mind is the surprise and disappointment that Steve Moyer of Baseball Information Solutions, one of the leaders in the collection and analysis of baseball's play-by-play data, expressed in an interview with Allentown's Morning Call:
He's just as baffled by clubs that want no part of their inside information. ''One of my biggest disappointments is the Phillies,'' Moyer said. ''They keep saying they're not interested. They are working backwards.''
When Pat Gillick was hired after the 2005 season, many were optimistic about the type of team he would compose and the success he would hopefully bring to the team in the near-future. Personally, I was excited for that possibility as well, but in addition, I also had hopes that Gillick would somehow find a way to instill a winning mindset in the Phillies organization, something that has been sorely lacking since the Pope departed Veteran's Stadium's hallowed halls.
In yesterday's newspapers, two stories were published that give us hope that this is truly the case. Both are stories of Gillick's attempt to get an edge any way he can and isn't afraid to try something new or unorthodox.
As most of us know, our diets are critical to our daily performance, whether we are a cubicle jockey, a construction worker, or a world class athlete. Since cubicle jockeys and construction workers aren't paid millions of dollars, they rarely have the means to consult dietitians about the proper diets for their jobs. But one would think that a baseball team that is investing millions upon millions of dollars on world class athletes would invest just a little bit more into bringing their diets into proper focus. For the Phillies anyway, that always hasn't been the case and recently, Gillick had a dietitian meet with the team and discuss proper eating habits. In addition, he has taken steps to make sure only the proper foods are available in the clubhouse.
It's by no means a significant step, but every little bit helps.
Another chance that Gillick took was to hold open tryouts among independent league players. The tryout netted four players that were offered minor-league contracts and with the help of Google, one of the players that was unearthed was Jake Ociesa, a 6' 5'' lefthander that throws a 93 mph fastball.
Sure, the odds are long that Ociesa will ever reach the Phillies big league club, but one never knows and it is this philosophy of leaving no stone unturned in a quest to win is something that seems to set Gillick apart from his peers.
Thankfully, this time around, he is on our side.
