After the Phillies' pitchers and catchers went through their first mundane workout of spring training Monday morning on the four Carpenter Complex fields, the team once known best for having more losses than any other professional sports franchise in North America staged a news conference worthy of Beatles-come-to-America hype.
Instead of John, Paul, George, and Ringo, it was Cliff, Cole, and the two Roys on stage together for the first time as the celebrated pitching quartet that will try to lead the Phillies to their second World Series title in four years. Joe Blanton played the part of the fifth Beatle, and it made for an interesting moment when one questioner forgot he was around when the Phillies won their last World Series.
If you wanted to match the rest of the Phillies' Phab Phour with the mop tops from Liverpool, Lee, as the most outspoken of the Phillies' foursome, was Paul McCartney, Halladay the more mystical John Lennon, and Roy Oswalt the quiet George Harrison, with Cole Hamels as Ringo Starr on drums.
In truth, none of the Phillies' five starters wanted to be on stage. They all waited as long as possible in the clubhouse before being told by the media relations department to get into uniform for this made-for-TV spectacle that included ESPN, MLB Network, and national media reporters from across the country.
Phillies president David Montgomery, front-office members Dallas Green and Pat Gillick, and pitching coach Rich Dubee were also among those interested enough to attend.
It was the presence of a few New York media that truly made this news conference a pinch-me moment for Phillies fans. Two months have passed since the Internet shook with the news that Lee had chosen to sign a five-year deal with the Phillies rather than take more money to pitch with the Yankees, the most prolific sports franchise in North America. New Yorkers will never understand Lee's decision, making it all the more delicious for Phillies fans.
