No Ruben sandwich
at Phils luncheon

By Ryan Smith
Times Sports Writer

The Philadelphia Phillies’ management has been criticized in recent years for what is perceived as an apparent disconnect with the team’s fan base.
Many Phillies fans believe that the bigwigs who inhabit the team’s front office do not understand their frustration.
The feeling throughout much of the city is that the fans are more passionate about winning a world championship than the team itself.
But one Northeast Philadelphia native is out to dispel that notion.
Ruben Amaro Jr., who grew up in Rhawnhurst, has been the team’s assistant general manager since 1999, having moved to the front office shortly after the end of his playing days with the Phils in 1998.
Last Thursday, Amaro was the guest speaker when the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Phillies luncheon.
"(Northeast Philadelphia) is a special place for me, and it always will be," said Amaro, a graduate of Franklin Friends and William Penn Charter high schools. "My mom still lives here. As a matter of fact, when I first came back after being away with the Angels organization (Amaro was drafted by the Angels in the 11th round of the 1987 draft before being traded to the Phillies in 1992), I actually came back and lived in the Torresdale area. So it’s a hard place to walk away from because I have some deep roots here."
In turn, Amaro says, he understands the frustration of a fan base that continues to root for a team that has won just one world championship in 122 years and has not been to the playoffs since 1993.
"I’ve bled Phillies blood for a long, long time," said Amaro, whose father, Ruben Amaro Sr., played for the Phils during the 1960s.
While Amaro Jr. will not concede that other members of Phillies management are out of touch with the fans, he does believe that his Northeast Philadelphia roots come in handy in his line of work.
"Although the perception out there is that we’re not hungry to win, the reality of it is that we are," said Amaro. "I’ve lived it as a fan, I’ve lived it as a batboy, I’ve lived it as a player. I understand what the fans are all about, and the passion with which they cheer. I think that’s one element that I bring to our organization."
It seems natural then that Amaro would serve as the perfect ambassador between the Phillies’ fans and new general manager Pat Gillick.
However, Amaro believes that Gillick, who replaced the highly criticized Ed Wade, already has a genuine understanding of what Phillies fans are all about.
"I think he probably learned (about Philadelphia) in a hurry after the first couple of interviews he’s had," Amaro said. "There’s no question that this city is passionate and starving for a winner. I think Pat understands that."
Amaro points to the fact that Gillick, 68, came out of retirement to take the job as Phillies GM as proof that he is willing and able to take on the challenge that faces him.
"Without question, I know that Pat Gillick would never come out of retirement at age sixty-eight to try to run our ship if he didn’t believe in the talent we have on our club," Amaro said. "This is a guy who had no reason to come out of retirement except that he knew that we have a quality ball club."
In the three months that he has worked with the new GM, Amaro has had nothing but positive experiences.
"It’s been extraordinary. (Gillick’s) extremely bright. He loves to include all of the people in our department," Amaro said. "He’s one of those guys who will take every single idea and analyze it. We don’t have any (players) that are considered untouchable, and that’s the way he likes to operate. If there’s a way to improve our club, he will certainly do it. It keeps every door open."
This philosophy would seem to be somewhat of a departure from that of the former GM. Under Wade, many players were deemed "untouchable."
In what seemingly is also a departure from the workings of the former regime, Amaro was very forthcoming during a question-and-answer session with members of the chamber of commerce.
"We still have a lot of work to do," Amaro said, referring to the current state of the Phillies roster.
When asked about the status of David Bell, Amaro told the crowd, "(Third base) is definitely an Achilles’ heel for us." Amaro talked about a plan that would see Bell in a platoon role with newly acquired infielder Abraham Nunez.
Amaro was just as candid when asked about the poor play of catcher Mike Lieberthal.
"He struggled last year and the year before," Amaro said." There’s no question about it; he hasn’t had great years. If we can improve in that area we would."
Amaro also had some interesting things to say on a number of other topics during the session.
On manager Charlie Manuel: "I know he takes a lot of heat from time to time here in Philadelphia, for a variety of reasons, but this is a guy that I really believe and trust in."
On centerfielder Aaron Rowand, obtained from the Chicago White Sox in the Jim Thome trade: "I got the chance to play next to Lenny Dykstra for a number of years. This is a very similar type of guy in the way that he goes about his business. We’re trying to build an organization where we have enough guys on our club that will run through walls to make us a championship-caliber club."
And on the team’s pitching staff: "We have to improve our pitching. Believe me, we’ve worked a lot of hours over the past few months to try to acquire that pitching. We’re trying to do a lot of things. But it’s easier said than done."
Al Taubenberger, president of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, was thrilled that Amaro, someone he considers a true representative of both the Phillies and Northeast Philadelphia, could speak at the group’s luncheon.
"I think it’s very important that the businesspeople get together," he said. "The power of networking in and of itself is good for business. But to have someone like Ruben Amaro, from Northeast Philadelphia, who played major league baseball, is fantastic. It gives us a chance to really get to know him and baseball better."
Amaro says he, too, is happy any time he is asked to speak in the part of Philadelphia that he "still calls home."
"I’ll never forget the memories," he said. "They shape you in a lot of ways."
Now the man who was shaped by Northeast Philadelphia continues to help shape the city’s baseball team. ••
Reporter Ryan Smith can be reached ayt 215-354-3114 or smithry@phillynews.com