Manuel on Werth, Contract, and the World Series
If I had told you a year ago that you'd be watching Cliff Lee pitch in the World Series tonight, I'm sure you would have been ecstatic. Well, as Charlie Manuel likes to say: Funny game, this baseball.
Manuel on Werth, Contract, and the World Series
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
If I had told you a year ago that you'd be watching Cliff Lee pitch in the World Series tonight, I'm sure you would have been ecstatic. Well, as Charlie Manuel likes to say: Funny game, this baseball.
Manuel said a lot of other stuff today in an appearance on 610-WIP, where he appears on a weekly radio show during the season. Not a lot of it was newsworthy. Most of it was interesting.
Here is the Cliffs Notes version:
1) Manuel's outlook on the Jayson Werth situation jibes with all the indications we've received from the organization over the past few months.
"From what I hear Ruben (Amaro Jr.) saying and my conversations with him, I think we definitely have some money to spend," Manuel said. "But at the same time, the problem is, length-wise of a contract, and also what direction we want to go in. From my point of view, to me, right now, I look at our core players, I'm a hitting guy, and I think we can develop a hitter before we can get a top notch pitcher or a top bullpen piece. If you look at our infield, take our catcher, and our pieces in the outfield, I think we definitely already have a good offense. It definitely has to hit better, which I'm planning on it doing, but at the same time, I think we can get production from the corner guys if we have to platoon or we have to go out and get a lesser big name piece."
Manuel did say later that he expects RAJ to negotiate with Scott Boras. But clearly, the Phillies have an alternate plan if, as everybody seems to expect, Werth's asking price (most specifically, the length of the deal) is out of their desired price range.
2) We floated this scenario the other day in our coverage in the Daily News, and Manuel mentioned it today: A platoon in right field to replace Werth. Keep in mind the Phillies had an outfield rotation in 2007 and 2008. Ross Gload played well this season and can play the corner outfield spots. I do not get the impression that the Phillies see using Domonic Brown in a platoon situation as ideal. A lot of the development he needs to do might not happen as quickly if he isn't playing every day. But it could happen. Don't be surprised though, if the Phillies target a lesser-named guy (think Jeff Francoeur or Matt Diaz) to provide some right-handed outfield depth to pair with a guy like Brown or Ross Gload. Depending on how Raul Ibanez starts next season, the platoon could also come with him in left field, enabling Brown to get regular playing time in right. Also, Ben Francisco hit well against lefties this season, so he could be an internal option.
"I think Ruben's got a lot on his plate as far as which way he wants to go in getting it done," Manuel said. "But I think he can. Evidently he definitely still wants to negotiate with Werth. It sounds like he's going to talk to Scott Boras, his agent, and things. That's definitely the first priority. And then that will lead us into which way he wants to take our team.
"I like young players. If something happens and we don't keep Jayson. (Domonic) Brown, that intrigues me. I'm really interested in that. We need a blend, a balance, a different look. We need to get back to what I call energy. We've got established big league players and they are good big league players, outstanding. Some of them are great. And they have their own way of playing. It's not like they don't hustle and things like that, but we could use a little different mixture."
3) Manuel didn't have much to say on his contract, which ends after next season, except to say he wants to continue to manage here.
"Ruben said something about that he would be talking to me sometime this fall, probably before Christmas," he said. "I'm sure he will. We'll see what develops."
4) And, of course, Manuel is still trying to get over the disappointing end to the season.
The other night when I talked to our guys after the game, that might have been one of the toughest talks that I've had since I've been a manager," Manuel said, "because you could tell that they were down, and they were hurt."
Could it be that Charlie is not entirely sold on investing heavily in Werth? His words indicate he wouldn't be all that sorry to see him go. And if you read between the lines, he seems to be advocating for pitching help (bullpen) and would settle for something other than an All-Star in RF.— jpk- I'm no fan of Frenchy (the guy was a Brave and a Met for the love of Pete), but he may perform well in this lineup. He has a cannon for an arm, too, so he would deter runners from trying to take the extra base.— jpk
We need right handed power - if jason is not signed; there needs to be some real shuffling done... really hope Ryan get's some "good" hitting coaching during off season and in Spring Training... deplorable...— M60tanker- I dont believe the Phils have a "core" anymore.Rollins and Utley have seen their better days. Injuries and slumps dont explain their offensive woes anymore,its that split second loss of bat speed and eye hand coordination.This also explains the loss of power Utley has experienced.
Howard seems to have lost his power stroke,misteriously(PED)and his appearance at the eagles game the day of a big game dtill bothers me.
I banez just hit with the consistancy or power he did before ,so to call this a an intact "core" is just plain wrong.
i think the phils need to get something for Rollins and Utley while they can and and while they still can blame injuries for their decline.Also a couple good players for howrd right now would be a plus.— gardner 
People on this board who criticize Lee for his comments yesterday are acting absurd. What exactly was he supposed to say? That he gets a chubby everytime he thinks about how he was treated here? Give me a break.— Sam Crow
if players perform the manager's a genius, They fail and he's "strategically challenged"...- The team can only contend, not win it all, as it is now constructed. Werth will leave because Boras will play hardball with the Phils so that's problem #1 to fix. I'd look to move Rollins (keep Valdez) and Kendrick as pieces in trades to pickup a replacement for Werth and possibly some bullpen help. Guys like Romero ($4.5 mil), Dobbs ($2 mil?) and Moyer ($9 mil) come off payroll so the Phils have that as a minimum savings. Amaro, in conjunction with Gillick, should be able to get the rest of the moves with some savvy trades. They need to start playing small ball and have #1 thru #3 get on base.— 1republican
- I have been one of the few saying Amaro did the right thing in moving Lee and picking up Halladay, and then Oswalt, because it put us in a much better position in 2011. After watching Lee last night, I DEFINITELY feel that way. He's a great pitcher but that was a big stage last night and he wasn't bad, he was really bad. None of our top three had anywhere near that bad of a start this post-season. In fact,they were all solid, or better.— eman
- We can assume Werth played his last game as a Phillie this past weekend, which means the team needs to find a RH power hitter via trade or free agency, which won’t be offering many options other than Werth. Like I said the other day, the most tradable guy is Utley, because he's still has value. Since 2007 his BA has been in a steady dive: .332 in 2008 to .275 this year. (Can he be another Dale Murphy or Lance Parish?) That's almost a 60-point drop. And his defense has not improved, especially his throwing. Have you notice how he stops for a while when fielding a grounder and the throws? Thinking too much probably. (Knoblauch of Steve Sax anyone?) Last year he made 12 errors in 155 games (774 ch). This year he made 11 errors in 115 games (586 ch). That's not counting the horrible defense he displayed during the playoffs this year. Only the Brave’s Conrad played worst. It would be nice to trade Howard and/or Ibañez if there are any takers and/or the Phillies are willing to eat a significant chunk of their contracts. But then RAJ would have less money to add pieces. By trading Utley and his contract and the departure of Werth, you can go after Beltre and move Polanco to second. You solve two problems, get the RH power guy, who also hits for avg, and break the LH hitters in the middle of the lineup, which for the last two playoffs series had been a problem. You also improve defensively having three GG in the infield, Rollins being the other. With the untested Brown most likely to play a bigger role next season and Ibañez most likely to keep declining, that would be even a bigger problem. Then you can add another RH bat to get into the outfield mix. The other trading option is Victorino, but he offers you insurance at the lead off spot in case Jimmy keeps having leg problems.— EL Zorro
Is Dominick play winter ball yet? He can be really good but he needs to face good pitching and ****learn how to see the ball off the bat and choose a good rout.— KINGOFZED- Please explain to me why we want to pay $15-$17? million a year for a guy who hit .186 with RISP??
Went 0 - 35 in one stretch!! With RISP and 2 outs, I would bet money Werth was below .125. Come on folks, this was his career year, and he didn't hit his weight with RISP.— sportsreader - Last time I checked, God (I mean Cliff Lee) had a LOSING record in regular season games with Texas.............SOMEBODY beat him......I'll take Big Roy anytime— recGUY
- Diaz is already a folk hero here. And a better tackler than Asante Samuel (though his cover skills are lacking).— ejc527
- With Rollins on first base and one out in the 9th inning of Game Six, you don't want Polanco to ground out to try to advance the runner. Wilson was wild and had just walked Rollins. He walked Utley after Polanco grounded out. Polanco had a 1-0 count and had no business swinging in that situation except to swing and miss so Rollins could try to steal a base. If Polanco had just kept the bat on his shoulder, Ryan Howard would have probably come up with the bases loaded and one out. Then, if Ryan Howard couldn't get the job done, at least Jayson Werth would have a shot to be a hero with two outs. The bottom line is Wilson Valdez was hitting well at the end of the season and hit .333 in the NLDS. Valdez deserved to start in place of the injured Polanco.— Freedom Fries
- This team allowed themselves to believe in the hype, basically thinking they could throw their gloves and bats on the field and expect to win the games, that is why some change is needed....those kind of things are unacceptable....Dear 25mil dollar man, would it kill you to listen to someone and learn to better yourself with left handed pitchers!?!?!? I mean with just a little effort you could make things a lot easier on the team and yourself....I dont care if you lay down a bunt every once in awhile, make the other team play you honest and not 8 guys this side of 2nd base!!!!!!!!— CROSSI
