The Phillies yesterday "denied a report" that team President & CEO David Montgomery, who is currently on medical leave, "will not return" to his position, according to Matt Gelb of the PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER. In a statement that "came more than eight hours after" an initial report by CBS Sports Radio Philadelphia, the team "insisted it has not made an official resolution regarding Montgomery, although the franchise's future may not include him as the top decision maker." Montgomery, 68, has gone through chemotherapy and radiation treatments after he "underwent surgery for jaw cancer in May." Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. yesterday said that he "expected Montgomery to return as president," a role he has held since '97. Gelb cites sources as having "disputed the notion that Montgomery was 'pushed out' in August when Pat Gillick became interim president." A source said that Montgomery's fate "could be determined in January." Gelb writes the decision "hangs over this important winter for a franchise facing an arduous rebuilding task." The Phillies could "follow the model of most modern organizations and hire a CEO and a president of baseball operations" above the GM, but that would "contradict the standard operating procedure" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 12/4). CBS Sports Radio Philadelphia's Howard Eskin in the original report yesterday cited sources as saying that Montgomery is "out as Phillies President," reiterating his reporting of similar news in October. Eskin: "Two more sources, two additional to the sources that I had before, have told me David Montgomery has been told officially he will not be back as the President. ... People close to [minority owner] John Middleton -- again what I reported -- said there is no way that he is not gonna get, at least, that three percent more he needs to be the majority owner" (CBSLOCAL.com, 12/3).
THE MAN BEHIND THE CURTAIN: In Philadelphia, Bob Brookover writes while the Phillies "put out a statement," they "did not put out the fire." In fact, they "threw gasoline on it." If Eskin's report "is not true or even based on some truth, the Phillies should have included a statement from Middleton saying he is not trying to become majority owner." It also should have said that Montgomery "will return as president if his health allows it." Instead, the statement was "vague and invited more speculation." Who is in charge right now "is a serious question, especially when the team is about to embark on a trip to the winter meetings in San Diego that will likely begin the heavy lifting on a long-awaited rebuilding job" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 12/4).
