Phanatic: I was robbed

PHILADELPHIA - The Phillie Phanatic plans to file a formal complaint with the Philadelphia Daily News for naming Brad Lidge its first-ever Sportsperson of the Year.

"No disrespect to Brad Lidge, but I am the real reason the Phillies won the World Series," the usually humble Phanatic told SoxandPhils in an exclusive interview. "He had a great season and really helped me get over the hump, but where would the Phillies have been without my great cheerleading this year?"

The Phanatic said the award should also reflect an athlete's bond with the community.

"Brad Lidge was perfect this year. Perfect. What in Philadelphia, besides this past postseason, is ever perfect?" the Phanatic said. "I've suffered for years with the fans and never lost my faith even when most would have written off these guys. How many times has Brad Lidge tried to pump up a crowd of 7,000 in Veterans Stadium in the sufferable August sun when the Phillies were dead and buried?

"Even after winning the World Series, Brad Lidge couldn't spend the offseason here," the Phanatic continued. "When he was chosen to narrate the Phillies yearbook DVD, he opted to record it in Colorado instead of Philadelphia. I know he just had a new baby and all, but c'mon."

Usually a big Brad Lidge fan, the Phanatic even questioned his role in the World Series, which concluded with the closer, 48 for 48 in regular and postseason save opportunities, dropping to his knees in an iconic picture.

"Yeah, he was great, but where was he when the freezing rain gushed down at Citizens Bank Park in Game 5? He was sitting in a sheltered bullpen," the Phanatic said. "Cole Hamels got a lot of credit for pitching that game. And so did the fans for sitting through it. But try keeping their spirits up when you're weighed down by wet and frozen green fur."

The Phanatic eventually conceded that Brad Lidge, or maybe Charlie Manuel, probably deserves the award. His beef is with the Philly writers who couldn't toss him a single vote.

"Mo Cheeks was fired and even he got two votes. So did his former boss," the Phanatic said. "The 76ers are falling apart, but the mascot of the World Champions can't get a little love?"

Warming up in the bullpen

I was sad when the late John Marzano took a job with Major League Baseball, leaving a void in the analyst seat at Comcast SportsNet for a former player with Philadelphia connections. But Mitch Williams relieved him admirably.

Both former players seemed to relish their roles, talking baseball and representing the views of both the athletes and the fans of Philadelphia. They weren't afraid to have fun or criticize a player.

Mitch really seemed to enjoy the 2008 championship - and not just because it officially got him off the hook for the Joe Carter home run. Johnny Marz would have loved watching it, too.

But Mitch won't be around to see whether the Phillies repeat. We just found out he's bailing on Philadelphia media to be part of the new MLB network. We haven't decided whether to upgrade our FIOS package to get the new network.

So this leaves another void at the microphone for a former athlete with Philly connections. I know the gut reaction will be just to increase Ricky Bottalico's air time. But might I humbly suggest another former Phillies reliever by the name of Ken Ryan? I know he's busy with his baseball academy, but he has broadcast experience with minor league games.

This endorsement is based solely on Ryan's ability and what's best for Phillies fans. It has nothing to do with generating traffic to our blog.

{So far, I think we've been unimpressed with Ricky Bo. Maybe he'll take some broadcast-speaking classes over the winter and get better with time, but so far he's been pretty dull.}

The answer to Sabathia and Teixeira

Just when it looked like the Red Sox would make no moves this offseason after the Yankees trumped them for Mark Teixeira, word comes out of Boston of two possible major signings: Brad Penny and former Sox Josh Bard.

If true, the Phillies would have no chance of repeating. {Please excuse Greg - he must be delirious from the Japanese milk candy he's been eating.}

I'm sometimes torn between cold-hearted, reasoned roster construction and the emotion a big-name signing evokes. The Yankees, a mediocre team that lost a slew of talent in the offseason, needed major rebuilding. The Red Sox, the 2007 World Series Champions who came within one game of going back to the Series this year, didn't.

Penny is back of the rotation filler who could easily be jettisoned for one of our many prospects. Bard, who was run out of town after proving he couldn't catch Tim Wakefield in 2006, would simply buy time to figure out the catching situation.

Ken Ryan: Our first baseball-reference page is updated.

News to me

While Google newsing the Phillies this morning, I came across a San Diego Union-Tribune story on Jake Peavy. There's nothing doing with Peavy and the champs, but an unrelated section of the story has the Philly connection: A Web site that compares a player's actual worth with his salary said in the last two years Jason Werth took $2.5 million in salary from the Phillies but gave back more than $33 million worth of play.

I have a new toy to play with: www.fangraphs.com. Here's the original "Werth much more money" post. The only problem I see is that you have to click on each player's individual page to compare salary with worth. I was hoping I'd be able to click on the Phillies roster and see a list who's over- and under-paid. And it's not available for pitchers.

Of course one of the first guys I put in - anticipating the annual arbitration drama - was Ryan Howard, who over-performed last year's $10 million salary by $5 million. The Phillies won't be helped by the Yankees $180 million contract with Mark Teixeira, Scott Lauber writes.

Nick Cafardo's Sunday column: His first "Apropos of nothing" seemed directed at Christine, and his other notes also had some good nuggets:

1. Don't you miss watching baseball?; 2. Not sure losing Kevin Cash to the Yankees was insignificant; 3. Aaron Harang, Pat Burrell, Mark Teixeira, and Brian Bannister - all former Red Sox draft picks; 4. Wouldn't it be nice if one of the rich athletes or one of the high-paid executives stood up in times when teams are laying off employees and said, "I'm giving up some of my salary to save the jobs of the working people in the organization?"; 5. Hall of Fame ballots are due in Wednesday. I voted for Jim Rice, Rickey Henderson, Bert Blyleven, Jack Morris, Andre Dawson, and Alan Trammell.

Cafardo also continues to insist that the Phillies are in on Derek Lowe. I still can't see that happening.

Christmas is over, slow days resume ...

But in case you forgot, the Phillies were the top Philadelphia sports story in 2008. Just to be certain, though, Christine will soon pop in one of her DVDs to make sure they still win it all.

More Teixeira: The Globe profiled Lars Anderson, a top hitting prospect whose arrival in Boston may be pushed up because Mark Teixeira decided to play for the bucks, not trophies.

And, Joe Sheehan at Baseball Prospectus has a pretty good take on what effect the Empire's spending spree will have on the AL East. Basically, the two powerhouses are now even: The Yankees will have the better offense, the Red Sox have the better defense. And the team that actually won the division in 2008?

Both are ahead of the Rays, who are likely to regress a bit in '09 before being scary good in the years that follow.

Yup, 2009 hasn't even started and the analysts are already writing off the AL champs, just like they did for all of 2008.

Personal note: I retired Mo Vaughn today.

I got Ken Ryan!!!

With the Phillies' first World Championship in 28 years, it was easy to shop for Christine this year. There was plenty of Phillies swag under the tree.

But it was Christine who pulled off the big surprise with what might be the ultimate SoxandPhils Christmas gift - Ken Ryan. We're now proud sponsors of his baseball-reference.com page. Christine put up a Merry Christmas placeholder message, but we'll SoxandPhils it up soon.

I've always wanted a baseball reference page, and I'm so psyched that it's Ken Ryan, who a certain blogger once suggested could be the ultimate SoxandPhil.

Welcome to the family, Mr. Ryan.

{Note to Greg: You don't own Ken Ryan. You just sponsor his page.}

Christine also got me a nifty new Red Sox cap. My old one seemed too big, and Christine never objects when I ask for a new one because she thinks my hats get too grimy.

Phillies swag: When the weather gets warmer, Christine can show off her championship T-shirt, which she can accessorize with the official "I was there October 27 & 29, 2008" World Series Game 5 pin.

Before then, when she starts complaining that opening day is so far off, she can pop in either the World Series or Phillies yearbook DVD to relive 2008. The latter arrived Tuesday, just in the nick of time. It has a picture of Elvis on the back, which was a great surprise.

Also pictured is the refrigerator magnet of the Phillie Phanatic holding the trophy and Gary Matthews' book Phillies Confidential. I had ordered it before Christine even knew it existed. She saw it a couple days later, and I blew her off.

"I'm sure it's lame - don't bother," I said.

It is going to be lame, but we'll have a few laughs over it and probably review it on the blog.

At Mom's: One of the first gifts I opened was an ornament of Santa Claus riding a Red Sox sleigh. I thanked my Mom, noting how in the last two years the Phillies ornaments were catching up in number to the Red Sox ones on the tree. Christine then opened one containing Santa riding on a Phillies rocking horse.

Oops: When we were looking around the Phillies store this month, I didn't understand why Christine was so taken by the championship shot glasses. We're not drinkers and don't have a collection or anything. I obviously didn't remember her October post when she flat-out asked for one. I'll have to make up for it on her birthday, which is less than two months away.

Have yourself a Harry little Christmas

In the summer of 2000, I worked nights and weekends. So, disappointingly, I had to miss Harry Kalas tribute night at the Vet. The giveaway to all fans, to commemorate the broadcaster's 30th year with the Phillies, was this talking Harry doll - you hit the bottom of it, and he gave an "It's outta here" home run call. I really wanted one, but I just didn't have enough vacation time to take off that Saturday night, July 29.

However, my dad ended up going to the game with his friend who had season tickets. I was psyched because I thought he would bring home the doll for me. But when I got home - no Harry. The next day - no Harry. By the next weekend - no Harry.

I asked my mom if my dad had even brought home the giveaway. She said no, he didn't. She thought he may have left it at the stadium or gave it to his friend for his kids - an understandable scenario, since they were his friend's tickets. Oh well. I forgot about it, and the Phillies finished the season with an outstanding 65-97 record - Terry Francona's last year in Philly.

I was 23 when this happened. And, of course, by 23, Christmas has lost some of its magic. I knew what I was getting for Christmas from my parents, and what I didn't know already, I was able to figure out as soon as I picked up the packages. But then I came across a small squishy one that I couldn't guess - it was my talking Harry Kalas doll. My dad had brought it home and asked my mom to wrap it up for me for Christmas. It may be my best baseball-related Christmas surprise.

I wonder if Greg has any Phillies surprises for me this year - we'll catch up on all the goodies tomorrow. Until then, enjoy the holiday.

(Postscript: Harry, sadly, doesn't talk anymore. A few years ago, he started saying "shkshhikhshkdkhsh" instead of the home run call, usually for about five minutes at a time instead of the programmed 10 seconds or so, but now he's silent. But he's still a happy reminder of that Christmas.)