Pat Gillick
Pat Gillick
Lawrence Patrick David Gillickis an American professional baseball executive, currently serving as the president of the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball. He previously served as the general manager of four MLB teams: the Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, and Phillies. He guided the Blue Jays to World Series championships in 1992 and 1993, and later with the Phillies in 2008...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionBusinessman
Date of Birth22 August 1937
CountryUnited States of America
Signing Billy is our top priority. I've learned through experience there is nothing more demoralizing to a team than consistently losing a game in the late innings. Wagner is dominant. He's very important to what we want to do. Billy told me we are at the top of his list.
We're looking for a top-of-the-rotation guy, someone who can strike people out and stop losing streaks. I'm optimistic we can find one. They're available. It just depends on what you have to give them. You may have to overpay.
They have some talent but it's going to be a very difficult situation for them. They'll be frustrated because of the losing in the short term. But in a couple of years they'll be OK. I'll tell you what -- I wish I had some of the players they have over there.
I like the pitchers we have in Jon Lieber and Brett Myers, but I think we still need a real power type of pitcher who can stop the bleeding or stop a losing streak. Is there someone out there? Sure, there are pitchers out there, but it's about what you need to give up to get. I'm talking to clubs all the time and evaluating this every day.
He's our No. 1 priority. Nothing devastates a team more than consistently losing games in the late innings. You're going to blow a few, but if you blow too many it's going to affect the team.
He's our No. 1 priority, ... Nothing devastates a team more than consistently losing games in the late innings. You're going to blow a few, but if you blow too many it's going to affect the team.
These are two key acquisitions. It's going to make them even more of a force to be dealt with in the East.
People seemed more interested in their martinis than me,
Bobby and John kind of came from the same background,
The team we have, we're going to be competitive. Are we going to win the division? No. We have to improve.
The talent in the American League is better than the National League. I had the opportunity with Seattle last year to see some National League games, and thought it overall wasn't the same.
The thing you learn over the years is to delegate a lot more. Not that you're not involved, but you delegate. If you have confidence in people around you, then you feel free to delegate.
I've always had a love for the game. I have a passion for the game. I love challenges. I was very satisfied with what I was doing. Some other club, I probably wouldn't have gone back for, not just for the job. I thought this was a good situation and good opportunity.
We're disappointed. We thought we had a competitive offer.