Sell-off starting to profit for Phils

Phillies seeing results of trading away 2008 core

PHILADELPHIA » As an organization that has too seldom enjoyed prolonged periods of success, the Phillies would be understandably slow to permit one to end.

They were division champions in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, when their ballpark was newer and crammed every night. Their players were rock stars, saluted by 2.6 million in a parade, emboldened to spit vulgarities into microphones. They were world champions once, in a World Series a second time. They weren’t as much players as heroes, or neighbors, or, at least in some corners of the front office, family.

Finally, though, it would be time.

Finally, they would have to stop waiting for aged, injured, graying former champions to resume playing to Hall of Fame standards. Finally, they would move.

Matt Klentak knew what happened. It’s why, within about five minutes of being introduced as general manager, he was quick to acknowledge one reason why he could make it all work.

“I want to thank Ruben Amaro Jr.,” he said at his introductory press conference. “I want to acknowledge what Ruben did during his entire time here. I think that he did a marvelous job of helping reshape the future of this organization.”

That’s how it happens, in a batting order, in a front office. One guy tries to get on base, the next tries to move him over. Together, they try to score. Technically, Amaro did nothing more for Klentak than Ed Wade had done for him, back when Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins and Cole Hamels were being developed. The only question was how much Amaro could regain once he started arrang-

MATT SLOCUM — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS Phillies’ Scott Kingery in action against the Braves, Tuesday in Philadelphia.