Series Six-Pack: “No one remembers Francona managing the Phillies.”

Quite a few ex-Phillies have wandered into Cleveland and been given a home within fellow shellshocked Philadelphia employee Terry Francona.  This week, for two games, the Phillies will attempt to destroy them.  Brian Heise of Wahoo’s on First did us the honor of not hanging up when we called.

As Lou Marson heads to the DL for another go, who would you call the winner in the Cliff Lee-for-Lou-Marson-and-several-others deal?

Sep 20, 2012; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians catcher Lou Marson (6) walks to first base during a game against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field. Cleveland won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

As much as it pains me to say it, the Phillies were the clear winner of that trade. Jason Donald and Jason Knapp were disasters, and Lou Marson has been nowhere near as good as advertised (although that hasn’t stopped the ladies from falling in love with him). We also received Carlos Carrasco in that deal and while the jury is still out on him, it’s not looking good.

Between injuries and suspensions for beaning batters he just can’t stay on the mound. Meanwhile, the Phillies have won a World Series title, been regular contenders year in and year out, and adding insult to injury, you were even able to trade him away and then resign him in free agency.

We still complain about this trade every chance we get.

I remembered the Indians had Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn late in the offseason and for some reason I gave them a ton of props. Why did I do that, and did others do the same?  Are they okay?

We all loved the moves of signing Swisher and Bourn along with Mark Reynolds and trading for Drew Stubbs. Actually, we still do. So far the results have been mixed, though. It’s either feast or famine right now with little to no in between. One game they’ll go out and score 12 runs and then they won’t score 12 over the course of the next four games.

It’s a total crap shoot on a nightly basis what we’ll get out of this team offensively. Bourn has been out for almost two weeks now with a cut on his hand and should be back. Hopefully his presence can help right the ship offensively.

Apr 19, 2013; Houston, TX, USA; Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona (17) prepares for a game against the Houston Astros at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Terry Francona once broke down crying in an interview close to his firing as manager of the Phillies, due to how irreparably bad the Phillies were.  Would you say these deeply emotional scars have healed in time? Or was that just because the Phillies were so dumb and terrible back then.

I’d say they’ve probably healed. No one seems to remember Francona managing the Phillies. Everyone ignores it and instead focuses on his time in Boston.

It makes sense, though. The Vet, that astro turf, the God-awful roster the Phillies put together. I don’t blame Francona if he has repressed any and all memories from his time there. That’s not the same franchise now that it was about 15 years ago or so.

Wahoo’s on First recently interviewed another intersection of Phillies/Indians history, Paul Byrd, who talked about his HGH usage. His inciting of a brawl at this Phillies-Braves game in 1999 is one of my favorite memories from that horrible era.  Was there a less likely person to start a riot?

Byrd seems like the least likely person to incite a riot.

I don’t see how anyone who uses that old school, arm swinging wind-up could be taken seriously enough for someone to think to themselves, “Hey, I need to charge the mound and knock that guy’s head off of his shoulders.”

Stranger things have happened though. Speaking of riots, I think you all missed out by trading away Carlos Carrasco. He’s going to be the instigator of a massive bench clearing brawl by the time his career is over if he keeps up with his current shenanigans.

Apr 14, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Brett Myers (39) reacts after giving up a two-run home run in the sixth inning against the Chicago White Sox at Progressive Field. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Wow… Brett Myers is on the Indians, too.  How are all of these former Phillies working out, and does anyone really remember than as “former Phillies?”

Well, we remember Myers from his time in Philadelphia, but not necessarily for his pitching. I’ll leave it at that. I think that’s the case for a lot of people. As for his performance on the mound. Wow, he was awful. The games quickly degraded into home run derby.

Turns out he was apparently dealing with a strained elbow ligament and is on the DL right now trying to get healthy. If he can get healthy, maybe he comes back and gives us a few quality starts, but no one is really banking on it. The fan base was very skeptical of his signing and the idea that he could become a starter again in the first place. It would take a miracle a this point to change that opinion.