What a year. What a long, long year.

And after playing 162 games and getting the grand tour of the proverbial basement, the Philadelphia Phillies have little to show for their agony.

"Bring It On," exclaimed the Phillies slogan, touting the organization's young nucleus of stars who would catapult the perennial cellar-dwellers into contention.

It should have been "We're Puttin' You On."

At the beginning of the season, hopes were high, thanks to free-agency pick-ups like long-ball threat Ron Gant and starting pitchers Andy Ashby and Mike Jackson. Third baseman Scott Rolen was returning, as was right fielder Bobby Abreu, catcher Mike Lieberthal, pitcher Curt Schilling and centerfielder Doug Glanville.

Interest was high. Some loony fans were even calling for a wild-card shot.

But it wasn't so.

A 7-21 start immediately took Philadelphia out of the race, and like losing always does in Philadelphia, took the fans out of the game as well.

Attendance sagged, the Vet started to look nastier and dirtier with each game, and even the Phillies' public relations staff had trouble mustering a smile.

But all was well, the Phillies said. A few trades here, a few trades there, and bang — Philadelphia will be back in it again.

So the pundits in the Phillies front office went to work, and shipped Ron Gant, sent Schilling to Arizona, Ashby to Atlanta, and eventually cut Rica Brogna.

And you know what? The team is even worse now than it was at the start of the season. The Phillies were 65-97, tied with the Chicago Cubs for the worst record in the majors. And as far as I can see, the biggest improvement made on the Philadelphia roster this season happened after the last out of the year.

After Sunday's 7-5 loss to Florida, general manager Ed Wade told Terry Francona that his four-year reign of skipper was no more. Francona said, in his typical always-on-top-of-stuff manner, "Ed Wade has been good to me. It was done early to help me. It seems like 10 (years), we didn't get it done. But you have to move on. If you don't win, they have to make the changes."

Yeah, it did seem like 10 years, Terry. This team has been lollygagging ever since that miraculous 1993 World Series run. Since then, the Phillies have had seven consecutive losing seasons.

I do praise management, however, for finally shelling out the loot to sign top-notch free agents. But the worst case scenario happened: the free agents that Wade signed had little or no impact on the team. This will not only make Wade hesitant in bucking up again, but will scare stars away from Philadelphia.

So what to do now?

The Phils have no manager, no pitching staff, and horrendous defense.

If I were GM for a day, I'd make a wholehearted attempt at signing either San Francisco's Dusty Baker or New York's Bobby Valentine. Both managers are very real possibilities since their contracts are up, and bringing in an ace manager would do so much for a town that just wants a winner.

Pitching is going to be a little tougher than just throwing some green around. But the Phillies cannot sit tight like they've done losing season after losing season. Wade has to rekindle the money-spending urge he had with Ashby and Jackson to try again next year.

As for defense and other everyday problems, why not let the minor leaguers play? Philadelphia has one of the best minor league systems right now, and shortstop Jimmy Rollins looks to be leading the pack. Let 'em play — they can't be much worse than their major league counterparts.

I'm sure the Phillies Phanatic is off somewhere plucking his green feathers, humming some sad blues song, thinking of what could have been with this dreaded season.

I just don't want to see him next year singing the same ol' song.