Manuel: We'll Be Ready
Charlie Manuel talks to reporters today.
Manuel: We'll Be Ready
Todd Zolecki
Charlie Manuel talked with reporters today during a teleconference. Here is some of what he said:
Q: Many of your players left the clubhouse last night upset. Are you concerned at all about their ability to refocus tomorrow night?
A: I know we're going to be ready to play. We come to ballpark and we're going to concentrate on winning tomorrow's game. That's all that's important to us. That's all we're thinking about. We've got 3 1/2 innings of baseball. We get to bat four times. They get to bat three. We get 12 outs. They get nine. We are definitely coming with the mindset that we're going to win that game. And that's all we want to be focused on. I feel like that our team will be the same way. I'll go around tomorrow and I'll talk to all of our players. I'll get a feel for what they're thinking. And I'll look them in the eye and talk about things and we'll make sure that we're ready to go. I don't think there's going to be any problem at all. I think that we've been resilient now for the last couple years, and I think we know exactly where we're going and what we want to do. We're going to be ready.
Manuel said he absolutely would not use one of his starters tomorrow night. He might need them for Games 6 and 7. This is going to be a bullpen game. Manuel would not say who he would pitch, and I don't blame him. No reason to tip off the competition.
go get em charlie! go phils! lets win a championship tomorrow night.— Bob65S- It is too bad that Manuel didn't vocalize what a joke it was that the game was even played last night. Or that the top of the 6th inning was allowed to be played.— glennboe
- i think we will get a more sincere answer out of manuel after the series. he can't rip anyone yet bc it could hurt the team.— timm2
- I second that, Bob!— gbrettfan
- 28 years. What is one more day?— Beef69
- didn't he mean to say, "we will come to the ballpark with the intent of winning last night's game."?— jeff gross
- yea, we definitely have the advantage, i just hope the players know that, we gotta come out strong, and whoever is pinch hitting needs to start off the game right.— robm0202
- Glennboe, He would have gotten fined big time by Selig for coming out and saying anything. I think his refual to talk to the press last night spoke volumes.— bobbyuk
- jeff....I sent you the "scathing" email. Titled, "Ask and ye shall receive". Sorry there wasn't more juicy stuff about the sports bar. But then again, we weren't there long enough to cause any trouble. LOL! There WERE a couple of cop cars parked outside all night, though. "Just in case."— Norma
- So who do you think leads off? Dobbs? How does it work - I assume Maddon has to put his team on the field, including the pitcher... If Manuel runs Dobbs up there, can Maddon change pitchers before the inning starts? Currently Balfour (RHP) is in, right? And if Maddon switches after Dobbs is announced, Dobbs will still hit I assume - can't waste Dobbs. What do you think? Certainly if the inning gets to Utley a lefty will be in.— NJLouis66
- Well, who can blame the players for leaving the clubhouse "upset"? P***ed off is more like it! Who can blame them after that fiasco? Wonder who or what they were upset with. The weather itself? The umps for not calling the game sooner? MLB for even letting the game start? Or even Charlie, himself. According to the paper, he and Maddon both had a say in starting the game. Of course, they had no say on when it was called.— Norma
- thanks for mail norma— jeff gross
- I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a score in the bottom of the sixth and a big effort from the bullpen so Cole can get the win. Not only would that be crazy to get a win for having pitched two days ago, but he deserves it.— AMC4232
- NJLouis, I'd put in Stairs against Balfour, but that's just me. I thought it was hilarious that Pat Burrell said "I only talk to reporters after games" and walked away, since the game wasn't really over!— bd1979
- Whoever is on the mound for the Rays has to throw a pitch before they can be replaced. So, if they lead with a lefty and the Phils send up Coste, that pitcher has to throw to Coste at least once.— Bake McBride
