Phillies interim President & CEO Pat Gillick on Thursday when asked how far the club is from contending, said, "Where we are right now, it's probably a couple years. I wouldn't think '15 or '16 ... is in the cards. I think somewhere around 2017 or 2018." CSNPHILLY.com's Corey Seidman wrote, "That's a bold, but realistic statement from the man who architected the Phillies' most recent championship run." The Phillies for several years have "operated under the assumption that their core can produce and that if all goes as planned, October baseball is a possibility." But Gillick "seems to have a firmer grip on reality." Seidman: "Or maybe he is just being more honest than the front office has been over the last three years" (CSNPHILLY.com, 10/23).
JUST LIKE STARTING OVER: FS1's Bill Reiter on Wednesday asked Clippers Owner Steve Ballmer if he is concerned that giving former co-Owner Shelly Sterling the title of "Clippers No.1" fan, a position in which she would receive tickets and a championship ring if the club wins a title, would be a "reminder of the past or a distraction." Ballmer responded, "Shelly is a great fan. She's been a fan of the Clippers for a long time. Shelly did the right thing. She liberated the Clippers. It was tough on her, tough family situation. She basically opposed her husband to do the right thing for the Clippers and given that the league was okay with it, I certainly was okay with it" ("Fox Sports Live," FS1, 10/22).
GLOBAL EFFORT: The GLOBE & MAIL's David Ebner noted the "biggest overhaul for the Spurs" this offseason came in a "rebuilding of their medical services department." In an "effort to keep their aging stars healthy through another long basketball season, the ever-innovative Spurs searched worldwide for inspiration, including in Canada, where they consulted" with the Raptors. The Spurs made "three principal hires" for the medical staff. Marilyn Adams, who has "treated Olympic freestyle skiers, snowboarders and triathletes," was named Dir of Rehabilitation. The club also hired Australian Phil Coles as Dir of Medical Services, and Barcelona native Xavi Schelling, who has worked closely with" Thunder F Serge Ibaka, as Applied Sports Scientist. Schelling "holds a PhD in physical activity and sport" (GLOBE & MAIL, 10/22).
