I understand we don't have all the facts yet, but I'm pretty angry. In fact, I'm very angry. Tyson Gillies was suspended yesterday, and by all accounts, it is an indefinite suspension. From what reports are saying, it may have been an altercation with a bus driver while the team was traveling. That, my friends, is no good.
I don't care about Tyson Gillies anymore as a player. He needs to be held accountable for his actions, and as much as I am willing to give these guys chances, I am afraid they need to move on from Tyson Gillies. There is a difference between giving a guy chances for on field performance and off the field performance.
Gillies doesn't deserve to be a Phillie anymore. He had his chances, and his time has passed. I don't think the Phillies can allow someone like this to be in their minor league system, regardless of the nice season he has put together in Reading. This is a guy that I can't support anymore. The Phillies need to come out and make a stand right now and release Gillies, telling him that this kind of stuff is unacceptable. If he latches on anywhere else, good for him. I won't be sitting here crying about it.
I believe firmly in second chances, and sometimes, even a third chance is a good thing. That's great to see guys like Mark Prior getting another chance at things. It's fun seeing stuff like that happen. It's not fun to watch Gillies make these kinds of mistakes. Listen, we don't have all the information yet, but I have enough information to write this post, and I am confident enough to say that I do not want Tyson Gillies in this organization anymore. I thought the guy would grow up, but it appears that's not in his playbook right now.
Dickie Noles, CEAP, by all accounts, does a fantastic job with the Phillies in helping players through all sorts of trials and tribulations. He is the team's employee assistance professional, and this looks like another case for him. Gillies needs to check himself out of baseball for a while and get his mindset straight, then try and come back for another team. Philadelphia is not the right place for him, and at this point, I think that's pretty clear.
When asked about the incident, Reading Phillies manager Dusty Wathan said, "It's (a violation of) team policy as in Philadelphia Phillies team policy."
While this leaves a lot open in terms of what it may have been, it will be a while before Gillies even steps back onto a baseball field.
"I don't know. I have not been told how long it will be. I just know that that's what happened and he's been suspended. I guess that's up to (Phillies director of player development) Joe (Jordan) and the front office to determine how long it will be", Wathan said.
In fact, baseball might not even be right for him. There are different priorities in your life at times, as we all know. The shooting in Colorado this morning puts things in an even greater perspective that life isn't always about sports. I'm worried for Tyson Gillies as a person. I'm worried for him as a member of society. I want him to know that I don't want him kicked out of the organization because I hate the guy. I want him removed from the organization so he can go find some treatment and try and work on himself as a human being. The Phillies, right now, don't need this type of guy in their organization, and the sooner they realize that, the better, for both parties.
Gillies, who is 23, should step aside and realize that if he needs help, he should get it. It's likely the Phillies are already working on getting help for him. He already dealt with an incident a few years ago where he was arrested for possession of cocaine. Those charges were later dropped.
Baseball doesn't matter anymore. Gillies needs to get his priorities straight, and hardball can't wait. He may have a future ahead of him, but it doesn't have to be in Philadelphia. In fact, it shouldn't be. It shouldn't be in sports if his head is at where it is now.
Sources: PhoulBallz.com, CSNPhilly.com/Jim Salisbury
Victor Filoromo is a featured contributor for Yahoo! and also contributes to PhuturePhillies.com, a Phillies' prospect blog. He grew up just outside of Philadelphia, and enjoys Philadelphia sports, media, and politics.
