Latest Phillies Win A Source Of Pride For Manuel
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Latest Phillies Win A Source Of Pride For Manuel
Marc Narducci
NEW YORK -- It’s only one win in a long season, but manager Charlie Manuel seemed to be more pleased than usual following Wednesday’s 10-6 victory over the New York Mets at Citi Field
Maybe because it was the way the Phillies won that pleased the manager. This was a game in which the Phillies combined a little bit of everything that Manuel had hoped to see more frequently as we near completion of the first third of the season.
The game included solid starting pitching, a comeback effort, timely hitting, and strong relief pitching (when the outcome was still in doubt).
And the players seemed genuinely excited, maybe because this was the type of game that the Phillies expected to win based on seasons past.
“The dugout was lively and everybody was into it,” Manuel said.
Cliff Lee pitched six solid innings, and is still without a win but he said that didn’t matter as long as the team won. Carlos Ruiz had the key pinch hit two-run homer that tied the score in the seventh.
Antonio Bastardo and Jose Contreras pitched shutout innings in relief when the game was still in doubt. Jimmy Rollins looks like he could be breaking out after a 3 for 5 game that included a three-run home run.
Brian Schneider got another big clutch hit, the double that enabled Manuel to pinch hit Ruiz for Lee, the move that turned the game around.
What Manuel appeared to like the most was that the Phillies grinded this win out. Manuel is a baseball lifer and he appreciates talent, but also a team that can fight. Too often this season that hasn’t been a trait this team has shown.
“When we stay with it like we did tonight, when we outplay the other team, when you are consistent, wanting it, you enjoy playing and have a passion for the game,” Manuel said. “Plus when we execute, we did some good things right in the game.”
Manuel also mentioned that the Phillies have now won two road series in a row. They took three of four in St. Louis and two of three at Citi Field. (Technicall, it's three road series in a row becaue the PHillies swept the Cubs May 16-17 in Chicago).
“Now we have to go home and win some games,” he said.
Amazingly the Phillies are just 11-13 at Citizens Bank Park.
More than win, he feels the Phillies need some victories like this recent one, where a team has to show its character and heart.
It’s only one game and nobody should suggest will turn things around but it did change the mood of the manager.
Besides enjoying the result, Manuel appeared truly proud of the effort and too many times he left the ballpark this season without a similar feeling.
"grinded"? Really?— ngfs66- Glad Charlie enjoyed the game. Amazing that he gets paid to manage them when all he actually does is watch them like the rest of us. At least he gets in for free. Maybe the Phillies should look into hiring an actual field manager for the balance of 2012 and beyond.— Richie Allen
- C'mon Richie! You want to fire one of the only 2 managers to win us a World Series? Must suck to be in charge. When you win you get no credit because you have good players. When you lose you get all the blame because you suck. We're over :500 and only 3 games back with no Doc, no Worley, 3 weeks without Lee, no Utley and no Howard. In the last week we've seen the cleanup spot handled by our catcher, our center fielder and a utility guy. Manuel is squeezing good results out of a banged up team.
- Bookmark this page if you think I'm wrong. We'll see who's right by July 31st--when the Phillies will either be buyers or sellers. See you then.
- I would like to agree w/ AceChutley... guy wants to fire Charlie for managing this team to over .500 w/ Cliff Lee having no wins, you 12RBI, 40HR center or your lineup power hitter on the shelf.. Doc is hurt and Chooch as the only guy that can really hit on this team.... and they are only 2.5 - 3 behind the division leading Nats.. get real... it's just amazing that this time is where it is right now... give Ole Chollie his due... you are probably a Howard hater too.... where are all of those people right now? Needs to be a bunch of people running around with T-shirts on saying "I'm sorry I doubted you Ryan"..— clinoril
- What are you talking about? Last year with Howard in April and May, the Phillies scored 4.2 runs per game. This year? 4.25. He might be your favorite player and you might miss watching him, but the facts are the lineup is as good or better this year than it was with him last year. — jtj10
- Thanks @AceChutley, well said...These few doom and gloom morons who hate on Charley have no clue, you would think the way he has been managing this year would change that, but no. This team shouldn't even be this close,but they are still in it...need I say more...— TexasYankee
- Charlie could invent a cure for cancer,and the people who are obviously smarter than Charlie ( they tell you so ) would give the Nobel Prize to Jimmy Carter.
One writer , whose stupid content centers around Wheeler, and his hair piece, is on the wrong forum. I'm sure the fashion page would appreciate his comments. So far I haven't seen Wheeler's wig entered in the box score. I guess it didn't win , lose, or save a game for the Phillies.
Maybe we could petition the sponsor to have Sarge swap head coverings with Wheeler. Sarge gets the wig, Wheeler models hats. It could start a new trend, and smarter dialog.— phineas - Wheels has a hairpiece? Who wudda known? — manyhats
- Picking on Wheeler's head covering is a way to vent the frustration of having to hear his nightly self-engrandising lectures on game minutiae. Between him and bad play, watching this team has been stressful. — Lpaul
- Head gear swap...YES.
Phin is onto something !— NewMick314 - Two things if I may...Charlie won the World Series in 2008 when he was not expected to. He did not win the World Series every year since, when he was expected to do at least be there with a good chance. That's not a good track record. And somebody has overused Doc. He even looks out of gas at the beginning of games lately. At the same age as Doc, Steve Carlton was yet to win 2 of his 3 Cy Young Awards, and he should have won 3 but 1981 went to Fernando{-mania} Valenzuela. Doc has a great fitness routine so that's not the issue. He is simply making too many pitches in recent years. A good manager would have realized that and taken him out earlier from time to time.— Richie Allen
- Do some homework. At age 35 (1980), 37 (1982), and 38 (1983), Carlton logged 304, 295, and 283 innings. The most Halladay has logged with the Phillies is 250 and that was his first year with them in 2010. The Carlton comparison destroys your argument.
— John621 - Yea, a great manager would have most wins in team history. Great manager would win a world series. Great manager would win 5 division titles in a row and 2 NL flags.— tommazza
- Another Charlie article to bring out the morons like Richie Allen! Dude, get a job as a MLB manager; you already think you're one.— JBinPA
