Sandberg promoted to Phillies staff
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Sandberg promoted to Phillies staff
Ryan Lawrence, Daily News Staff Writer
Less than 48 hours ago, Charlie Manuel didn't sound like a man with a plan to overhaul his coaching staff.
"I’m comfortable with the coaches," Manuel said before Tuesday's game in Washington. "I’m definitely not sending them a message that they didn’t do their job. I’m just saying that, what I see, we’ve got to improve."
But less than 24 hours after the Philies season ended, the staff has been given a facelift, including adding a Hall of Famer to the bench.
Ryne Sandberg was named the Phillies third base coach and infield instructor on Thursday morning, a day after the season ended with the team dismissing three coaches: first base coach Sam Perlozzo, bench coach Pete Mackanin and hitting coach Greg Gross.
Sandberg has spent the last two seasons managing at Triple A Lehigh Valley. But after being interiewed for the St. Louis Cardinals manager's job last winter, the Phils obviously felt it was imperative to add Sandberg to the major league staff this year to keep him in the organization.
Other coaching moves announced Thursday:
- Juan Samuel, who has acted as the third base coach in the last two seasons, has been offered the first base coaching job, which has been vacated by Perlozzo.
- Steve Henderson and Rod Nichols have been promoted from within the organization to hitting coach and bullpen coach. Mick Billmeyer, who had been the bullpen coach, has been promoted to catching coach.
-The Phillies will not have a bench coach in 2013. But with pitching coach Rich Dubee back for his ninth season as pitching coach, and 12th in the Philies organization, he is Manuel's de facto right-hand man.
But the biggest news is Sandberg joining the staff. The 53-year-old had spent the last six seasons in the minor leagues, being groomed as a major league managing candidate.
He has been widely rumored to be the heir to Manuel, who is entering the final season of a three-year contract extension he signed in March of 2010.
why? did Charlie blame the bench coach for not making the playoffs this year?— high alpine- why? did Charlie blame the bench coach for not making the playoffs this year?— high alpine
If Sandberg is such a great manager prospect, why did the Cub's pass on him twice?— HappyBob- And since not hiring Sandberg, the Cubs have done what? Maybe it's a power thing with the GM. — mike l
- Sandberg was an intelligent player. I hope it translates as a coach. Charley made sure Brumett, a career minor leaguer, got a taste at the majors in meaningless game. I will give him points for that. Still this makes me feel retaining Manuel shows RAJ has no backbone. Few respect Manuel as a manager. Phills have holes to fill. A dependable arm for 8th inning. A righthanded power bat Frandsen played well particularly when you factor in injured foot but is he answer for 3B? CF a question. Reasonable good health for Utley, Halladay, Howard would go a long way. There will always be some that overachieve and some that underachieve. 5 years later Howard still unable to read strikezone. Ryan has to change this or he will not be an elite player. Also have to factor in Nats are young and talented.— Don w
- I really liked that Brummet move last night by Charlie as well. This move flies in the face of your "few respect Manuel as manager" comment. I strongly disagree. I think you read too many negative comments about Charlie here and assume they mean something to the people who know baseball and make actual baseball decisions. Believe me, the guys that make the decisions and play the game respect Manuel. — vafan
- I would have made Manuel bullpen coach. Let's hope Samuel declines the offer of first base coach and moves on.— Edward L Norton
- Too many coaches.— mick1219
- Yo Mike, Just what will Sandberg be able to do that Charlie couldn’t, or wouldn’t, do to address “lackadaisical play” of the multi-million, multi-year contract players? Will he send JRoll back to LV the next time he fails to run out a pop-up?— lbeidel
- dross, the problem with HOF hitters as coaches is they had talent to hit. You can't teach talent.— palmyra21
- If the Phils flounder in 2013, expect a change. Chollie may not like it, but the future is now standing at 3rd base. If Chollie can't get veterans like Rollins to give 100% and earn their high salaries despite declining production, get rid of the players or send the manager into retirement.— VANDERGRAAFK
- Dross - Pete Rose is banned from baseball. He can not be in a clubhouse of any kind. If the Phillies were caught having him as an instructor they would get killed.— oharabri
- @Scootch: Sandberg has managed for six years in the minor league system; four for the Cubs and two for the Phillies. He's taken three of those six teams to the playoffs (2006 A ball, 2010 AAA ball, 2011 AAA ball). He won Manager of the Year in 2010 with the Cubs AAA team, and again in 2011 with our own Iron Pigs.
Nothing is certain of course, but it seems a pretty worthwhile risk to give the man a chance in the big leagues.— PeteInPhilly - how can you misspell Phillies so many times?— puddin
- "Juan Samuel, who has acted as the third base coach in the last two seasons..." Like Juan, but acted is the perfect word to use in that sentence.
— jp8899
