Manuel vents; Lidge has blister
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Manuel vents; Lidge has blister
Paul Hagen
HOUSTON – Phillies manager Charlie Manuel was clearly upset after the Phillies were swept in a four-game series against the Astros, especially by the lack of production by the offense.
Here’s a partial transcript of his almost stream-of-consciousness remarks:
“They swept us. Four straight. They outplayed us. They deserved to win. We’re not going to win many games playing like that. I mean, we had a bad series. And that’s saying it lightly, I guess . . .
“If we continue playing like that, it’s going to be hard for us to win (many games). It’s that simple. We did almost everything you could do to lose. You name it. Go over each game. They hit. And we didn’t. We had three guys on third (Sunday) and didn’t knock any of ‘em in. We didn’t execute when we had chances. We didn’t get the big hit. We couldn’t get a two-out hit. And we didn’t pitch when we had to.
“(Emergency starter Jamie) Moyer was good. Moyer was really good. But we didn’t pitch when we had to. That’s the bottom line in this series. Any time we had to hit, we didn’t hit. Any time we had to pitch, we didn’t. Go back and think about it. They did. We didn’t.
“It was a bad series, a rough series for us. The way we played.
“A lot of our guys were on our team last year. And I think we definitely know how to play. But when I see us chasing balls on the ground, chase ‘em in the dirt, swing at balls over their head, we’re talking about professional hitters. So, yeah, I start to wonder about it. I don’t know what it is. Are they trying too hard? Are they tight?
“We have no reason to be tight. But you know what? I kind of sense that with some of those at bats we put on, that we don’t have a clue what we’re doing. That’s what I see. And if you watch you’ll see it, too.
“Hey, when we’ve got guys on base, the pitcher’s the one that’s in trouble. Especially with less than two out. The pitcher is in trouble. Not the hitter. What is offense? Offense is offense. That’s why it’s called offense. You’re hitting and you’re up there with runners in scoring position or the bases loaded, the hitter is offensive.
“But when you’re chasing balls on the ground and in the dirt and that stuff, I’d call that defensive. It don’t work.
“You can go around and talk to them. You can tell them in batting practice and things like that. But we’re in September. Damn, if we ain’t got it by now we ain’t never going to get it.
“We were sitting in a real good position before we came in here. We’re still in a good position. But, I mean, we’ve got to play, man. We’ve just got to play and win some games.
“It’s been kind of leading up to this. It’s got to bottom out somewhere. . .
“I don’t know (if they’re not used to playing with a big lead in September). But I hear some of them talk. They say, ‘We’re a team that plays better when we have to, when there’s more pressure” and stuff like that. Well, I find that hard to believe when I see us play like we did (Sunday). What do you think?
“Hey, I don’t know. I played 20 years. I liked my chances of being relaxed and everything when we’ve got a nice lead. So that don’t register for me. I’m sorry.
“We have a lead, but that’s beside the point. (Bleep) the last couple years. What the hell? That don’t mean (bleep). We’re playing today. Right now. Hey, last year is dead and gone. We’re always playing for today. To hell with that.
“I don’t get that because I think when you have a lead, I’m thinking that you’re setting better than you are when you absolutely have to win that game that day. I think having a lead’s got to be better than that. I mean, I’ll take the lead. That’s what I’m trying to say.
“What happened in the past is gone. That’s how we played at that time. You know we played tremendous baseball last year the last five, six weeks of the season. Best baseball we’ve ever played. Well, I’ll tell you what. I’m not going to give our lead up and say, ‘OK, we’re going to start here even in the league.’ No, we ain’t going to do that. Because I don’t know if we’d come through or not. I like our chances better where we’re at. But at the same time, we have to win some games. That’s what I’m trying to say.
“What I see, the way we’re playing, we’re not playing good. When I see it and I see how we’re playing, I’ve got to think for us not to be able to knock runs in, I don’t care what anybody says. I’ve got to think we’re a little bit tight when I see guys swinging at balls on the ground and continually doing it two or three strikes in an at bat. Or way overanxious or something. I think my experience tells me that much.
*
Reliever Ryan Madson was unavailable for the Astros series with an apparent strained oblique. Charlie Manuel couldn’t say for sure whether he’d be available to pitch Monday night in Washington.
Manuel also said he wanted to stay away from closer Brad Lidge on Sunday “because I want to make sure he gets his finger well.” The manager didn’t want to elaborate, but a source said Lidge has been bothered by a blister. It’s unclear how long he’s had it.
This team is in for a rude awakening if they think they can turn it on at will.— StevenT- Anyone who watches the Phillies knows Lidge has been looking at his hand after throwing a pitch since May.— bobbyd24
- Lidge is being mentored by Mitch Williams.— E Plebnista
- hahaha...4 game losing streak and charlie must go? thats an all time classic...even for this board.— TheLon
Comment removed.- J-Roll said way back when--spring?--to be a champion you have to step on their necks when you've got 'em down. Well, now we have a lead--we have them down ...— mmaglich
- They peaked way too early this season.When you have your foot on the throat of your nearest rival,you sqeulch him(Braves,Marlins).Suddenly I'm sick of winning with hrs and want to see some situational hitting,move the runners along.That is baseball.Not this.They may make it to the playoffs but it will end there.— turtleguy64
- Its nice to know Chrlie is watching the games. Good questions from the skipper...uh..what does Milt Thompson do on this team? Is that a "union" position ...hitting coach? I suspect Milt tells em each day how good they are at home run hitting. "just go up there and wail away boys" Rube you need to shake it up and fire Milt thompson and then put up a big sign on the board "ATTN..the hitting coach is here to coach you..get used to it"— dlauver1
How come J-Roll & Charlie were yukking it up in the dugout during a critical time in the late innings? This ain't fun to us! It's life and death! I understand slumps but, laughing during a critical situation when we should be foaming at the mouth? Huh?!?!?!??!!!!— Nihilist- I think Manuel forget to include himself and some of his boneheaded moves over the Houston series.— bdm155
- I didn't get to watch the game and I'm glad. FIRST THING THAT COMES TO MIND IS THE SIGNALS COME FROM THE DUGOUT!!!! --- According to Fox's play by play in the 2nd Werth doubled and was moved to 3rd by Feliz grounder to short. With 1 out they let Ruiz hit away instead of bunt and he grounded out to 3rd and Moyer grounded to 1st. WHERE WAS THE BUNT CHARLIE? 1 RUN IS 1 RUN PERIOD.— Wally 24
- It's insane that Manuel went off on his team after today's performance when he was the worst guy in uniform. How can he keep those guys playing for him if he doesn't take any responsibility for that game today. Here is a list of what makes up just a fraction of the bad decisions from today's game. (1) Hitting Ibanez 5th. If Werth and Ibanez are performing anywhere close to each other, Werth needs to hit 5th - it breaks up the lefties, Werth is a good OBP guy, and Werth runs well. This mistake haunted throughout the game but was especially bad in the 8th when the the Stros were able to use a lefthander against Howard and Ibanez and then change for Werth and Feliz. (2) Not going to Eyre to face the left handed Bourn. What is Eyre for? Park was ineffective and you have to the left/left match up there. At least when you are wrong you should take respnosibility. (3) The failure to adjust his managing to the Phils struggles. Best example of this is when Rollins was on third with one out and the struggling Vic was up there. Why not squeaze? You had a one run lead, it is a situation they are struggling in, good base runner, good bunter - he needs to start running some guys and doing something to get them going. (4) How is Cairo the guy to pinch hit as the leadoff hitter for the 9 spot? How do you hit for Ruiz at this point. Bottom line - Manuel did a ton of things that didn't make sense and din't work and he went off on everyone else. I have been calling him a crazy old man but now it seems he is acting the role of a child— unclecharlie
- Again Fox's play by play -- In the Phils 7th Cairo flied out to lee, Rollins doubles to right and moves up to 3rd on the pick off attempt. Victorino then grounds out to 3rd and Utley strikes out. WHERE WAS THE BUNT UP THE FIRST BASE LINE CHARLIE? TWO OF THE FASTEST MEN ON THE TEAM AND NO BUNT ARE YOU KIDDING ME. This has gone past stupidity to the realm of the IDIOT.— Wally 24
- Nick Leroy - Plagiarize much?— scottash
- charlie is not the problem. if any coach needs to go its Milt Thompson. What type of baseball people think a team can win with an offense like we have? I would just assumer trade Werth this off-season for a guy who hits .300, walks, runs well. Hopefully Taylor and Brown can do that. Every pitcher on this team has an oblique pull, Pedro Feliz and Raul have fallen off the table completely. 1964 may very well occur. This series with the Nats will be tough you watch. Everything we have said to a Mets fan will be whiped out if we blow this league. Oh yeah, Jimmy ROllins YOU ARE NOT A HOME RUN HITTER STOP POPPING UP— gulls3012
