The Phillies this morning "went through the formality of elevating Andy MacPhail to club president," succeeding Pat Gillick, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPHILLY.com. The move "had been planned since MacPhail joined the club as a special assistant to Gillick on June 29." Phillies investor John Middleton at the time said that MacPhail "would take over the club presidency from Gillick shortly after the season ended." Salisbury notes MacPhail "has acted as club president for weeks now," and he "made the call to cut ties" with GM Ruben Amaro Jr. last month (CSNPHILLY.com, 10/14). In Philadelphia, Ryan Lawrence notes MacPhail also "spent this month conducting interviews to fill that general manager's vacancy, a chore he hopes to have finished by the end of the month" (PHILLY.com, 10/14).
NG THE RIGHT PERSON FOR THE JOB: In Philadelphia, Bob Brookover writes when looking at the reported candidates for the Phillies' vacant GM position, MLB Senior VP/Baseball Operations Kim Ng "seems more qualified and more prepared for the job than all the others." The Phillies "have never been known for breaking ground," but now they "have a chance to do something bold and daring and, most important, right." If they hire Ng, they will have "landed the best candidate for the job" (PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 10/14).
