truebluefan

Rollins pinch-hits for Lieberthal at kids' party

Every year, it punctuates Mike Lieberthal's year-long commitment to bring joy to children with cancer: He buys $35,000 worth of Phillies tickets and hosts his V.I.P.s at several games each season.

This year, the Phillies' annual Halloween party yesterday for patients at the Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania lacked one thing.

Lieberthal.

"This year, with getting married next weekend and with the uncertainty of his situation these things are a little bit different," said president David Montgomery, referring to Lieberthal not being under contract for next season.

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truebluefan

LIKE EVERYONE else in the Phillies family, president David Montgomery gnashes his teeth when he thinks of the St. Louis Cardinals hoisting the Commissioner's Trophy.

Maybe signing Alfonso Soriano, who filed for free agency yesterday, re-signing Randy Wolf, who filed for free agency Saturday, and snagging a couple of relievers will put them over the top.

"Obviously, this was a year of opportunity," said Montgomery yesterday, 2 days after the 83-win Cards became the worst team to win a World Series. The Phillies won 85 games and swept the Cardinals in August. "It's tough to think, 'Geez, but for a couple of games, we could have at least been one of the eight involved.' All teams this year had their flaws; whether they got hurt or not."

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truebluefan

The moment the World Series ends is the moment baseball's hot stove starts to heat up.

Alfonso Soriano. Gary Sheffield. Pat Burrell.

Phillies fans will read and hear plenty about those players in the coming months because the Phillies will be trying hard to trade Burrell while making a run at Soriano and Sheffield.

"It's already under way," Phillies president David Montgomery said of the off-season shuffling yesterday afternoon. He was at the Embassy Suites Hotel near the Philadelphia airport, where the Phillies hosted their annual Halloween party for young cancer patients at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "If you're following Pat [Gillick] around, it really started a month ago. Believe me. He's been in Arizona for the Arizona Fall League, taking the kids out to dinner. He visited Jamie [Moyer] a couple times [in Seattle]."

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