Cover: It's Never Been So Sunny In Philadelphia

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It's Never Been So Sunny In Philadelphia
By Matt "The Stat" Himelfarb
Posted Monday, August 13, 2007

While flipping through the pages of John Schuerholz’s “Built to Win: Inside Stories and Leadership Strategies from Baseball’s Winningest GM,” one of the very first things that occurs to the reader is that, aside from a few segments, Schuerholz doesn’t spend a whole lot of time going into tremendous detail about a front office personnel move or free agent acquisition. Instead, Schuerholz, to a sometimes exasperating if not boring, extent, likens the Braves' leadership abilities, clubhouse atmosphere, and vast distinction from the way he believes “Moneyball” teams operate (with quite a few misconceptions). Like a child receives his looks from one of his parents, it’s easy to see where the Braves' sometimes irritating competence and professionalism comes from.

While everyone seems worried about the "new and improved" Braves, far too many people seem seem far too quick to write off the Phillies, or so says Prof. Matt "The Stat" Himelfarb.

Read entire article here: http://www.flushinguniversity.com/mo...-sunny-p.shtml

[mookie03]

It's Never Been So Sunny In Philadelphia
By Matt "The Stat" Himelfarb
Posted Monday, August 13, 2007



While everyone seems worried about the "new and improved" Braves, far too many people seem seem far too quick to write off the Phillies, or so says Prof. Matt "The Stat" Himelfarb.

Read entire article here: http://www.flushinguniversity.com/mo...-sunny-p.shtml

hey matt, i REALLY enjoyed this. You are so right about how quickly people dismiss the phils (like how i didn't even mention them, which could also be attributed to the timing of my writing the article). Their reputation precedes them and it is not so different from how i felt when the Nats had that hot start or when the Tigers were dominating baseball first half of last year. I did not believe in the Tigers at ALL last year - i was waiting for their collapse all season.

I still think that the bullpen is one of their biggest holes, and the starting pitching, even with kendrick, is not good enough to survive in that bandbox. But you are certainly right that we ignore them more than we should.

Also, my biggest reason for not fretting about the Phils is that I don't hate them. As much as they are our I-95 rivals, i really don't hate them. They are not the Braves to me. And i guess it's because we have really never competed with them (meaning finished 1st and 2nd with a close margin). Of course, eventually they will beat us and win a division, but right now, it's still the Braves for me...

[Coop]

Also, my biggest reason for not fretting about the Phils is that I don't hate them. As much as they are our I-95 rivals, i really don't hate them. They are not the Braves to me. And i guess it's because we have really never competed with them (meaning finished 1st and 2nd with a close margin). Of course, eventually they will beat us and win a division, but right now, it's still the Braves for me...

Yeah, I don't know why we all don't have massive Phils hate like we do the Braves. Atlanta fans could care less about us. Wear a Mets jersey in Philly -- and you get beat up!! LOL

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hey matt, i REALLY enjoyed this. You are so right about how quickly people dismiss the phils (like how i didn't even mention them, which could also be attributed to the timing of my writing the article). Their reputation precedes them and it is not so different from how i felt when the Nats had that hot start or when the Tigers were dominating baseball first half of last year. I did not believe in the Tigers at ALL last year - i was waiting for their collapse all season.

I still think that the bullpen is one of their biggest holes, and the starting pitching, even with kendrick, is not good enough to survive in that bandbox. But you are certainly right that we ignore them more than we should.

Also, my biggest reason for not fretting about the Phils is that I don't hate them. As much as they are our I-95 rivals, i really don't hate them. They are not the Braves to me. And i guess it's because we have really never competed with them (meaning finished 1st and 2nd with a close margin). Of course, eventually they will beat us and win a division, but right now, it's still the Braves for me...

I fear the Braves for a couple of very simple and logical reasons, much more than I would ever fear the Phillies.

The first is the Braves have PROVEN, time and time again, that they have what it takes to win, and to win the division. Not so with the Phillies; they have proven nothing except that a few of them have big mouths, lol.

The second is that the Braves have our number; we have never been able to beat them consistently.

Ergo, to me, our chief rivals are the Braves, not the Phillies.

Not the Phillies until they prove they can do more than simply compete, that is lol!

[mookie03]

I fear the Braves for a couple of very simple and logical reasons, much more than I would ever fear the Phillies.

The first is the Braves have PROVEN, time and time again, that they have what it takes to win, and to win the division. Not so with the Phillies; they have proven nothing except that a few of them have big mouths, lol.

The second is that the Braves have our number; we have never been able to beat them consistently.

Ergo, to me, our chief rivals are the Braves, not the Phillies.

Not the Phillies until they prove they can do more than simply compete, that is lol!

yup, that's 100% how i feel, except that i would clarify - the braves have ONLY proven they can win the division, nothing ELSE

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yup, that's 100% how i feel, except that i would clarify - the braves have ONLY proven they can win the division, nothing ELSE

NOT true, Stef. They did win the WS in 1995, which is a few years after the last time we did.... lol !

[mookie03]

NOT true, Stef. They did win the WS in 1995, which is a few years after the last time we did.... lol !

well, i'm obviously aware of that, but that was 12 years ago...i mean, that's almost half a lifetime for me (wow, that just made me feel REALLY young...). This is certainly not the same team, and winning once in that many postseason appearances doesnt exactly make them a huge threat IN the postseason

[mookie03]

Yeah, I don't know why we all don't have massive Phils hate like we do the Braves. Atlanta fans could care less about us. Wear a Mets jersey in Philly -- and you get beat up!! LOL

coop you are right - Philly fans are kinda nuts..but most of them don't care as much about baseball as they do about football and hockey right? That's the sense i get from the ones i've met but i'm asking because you have actually been there!

[Coop]

I fear the Braves for a couple of very simple and logical reasons, much more than I would ever fear the Phillies.

The first is the Braves have PROVEN, time and time again, that they have what it takes to win, and to win the division. Not so with the Phillies; they have proven nothing except that a few of them have big mouths, lol.

The second is that the Braves have our number; we have never been able to beat them consistently.

Ergo, to me, our chief rivals are the Braves, not the Phillies.

Not the Phillies until they prove they can do more than simply compete, that is lol!

But this is what I don't get (and I don't mean to pick on you solely Deb ), is that - yes, the Braves have "proven" they can win over and over again.

But - they didn't win last year.

And - what does the past have to do with the present? Yes, I know Larry Jones can still mash and still likes to break our hearts every time he plays us but - who's to say that Philly isn't the sleeping tiger? I th ink that's why my hair is getting gray right now...I'm not only worried about the Braves, I am thinking about the Phils too!

And mark my words - there will be a series in September where we are like - dag, too bad we couldn't take that series from the Marlins back in August.

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well, i'm obviously aware of that, but that was 12 years ago...i mean, that's almost half a lifetime for me (wow, that just made me feel REALLY young...). This is certainly not the same team, and winning once in that many postseason appearances doesnt exactly make them a huge threat IN the postseason

But you miss my point, dear Stefi -- I fear them as division rivals. Clear like mud? lol

And also, look back earlier this century to when we've faced them in the postseason -- not much success there..... lol.

All things concerned, I can't agree with W.C. Fields when he famously said "All things considered, I'd rather be here than in Philadelphia," insofar as the Braves and Atlanta And The House Of Horrors That Ted Built are concerned, lol!