Posted: Thursday, November 6, 2008, 9:59 AM | 18 comments |
 

Manuel in 2012
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Charlie Manuel for President? Hey, why not?

Charlie Manuel might need to start thinking about a running mate for 2012.

Fresh off leading the Phillies to their first World Series title since 1980 and just their second championship in 126 years, Manuel is a popular man in these parts. He even got a write-in vote for President of the United States in Moorestown, Burlington County.

"Hey, that's pretty good," Manuel said. "I might have to think about running in the next election."

If Manuel leans to the left, he could make a Manuel/Rollins ticket. Jimmy Rollins stumped for President-elect Barack Obama before the election. If Manuel leans to the right, he could team up with Brett Myers.

Of course, he would some have work to do. Manuel fell more than 63 million votes behind Obama.

"One is better than none, isn't it?" he said. "If I won the next three World Series, I might get a few more. . . . But I'd like to meet that guy that voted for me. He must be a pretty smart guy."
Posted by Todd Zolecki @ 9:59 AM  Permalink | 18 comments
18
Comments   
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:33 AM, 11/06/2008
    I like Charlie's sense of humor "..that guy that voted for me -He must be a pretty smart guy."
    — gbrettfan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:58 AM, 11/06/2008
    The Phillies as a team got 427 votes.
    — Beef69
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:07 AM, 11/06/2008
    A few votes for Pat Gillick might be in order too! :)
    — NJLouis66
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:21 AM, 11/06/2008
    I just read from Ken Rosenthal where the Cubs are trying to bring back Ryan Dempster AND add Jake Peavy, giving them a rotation of Peavy, Zambrano, Harden, Dempster, Lilly. I would LOVE to see that. The national media fell so in love with the Cubs this year that everyone completely ignored their obvious flaws, and completely overrated them going into the playoffs. If they were to accomplish this, the same thing would happen next year. The Cubs would be touted as some unstoppable juggernaut with the greatest rotation this side of Atlanta, and still would go nowhere, and everyone will wonder why, even though the outcome would be as predictable as anything: Rich Harden's arm will fall off, Carlos Zambrano will go bonkers at the worst possible moment and try to slide-tackle an umpire, Ryan Dempster will revert to form, which is to say he'll go something like 9-12 with an ERA just barely south of 5.00, and Peavy will look like a Cy Young winner until he pitches an important game, during which he'll allow 7 ER in 5 IP or less to a woeful offensive team. The only realible pitcher in there is Lilly, because at least you know what Ted Lilly is and what to expect. He is an above-average LH starter, a real solid #3 or 4, but probably a little over his head if he is cast any higher than that in your rotation. Plus, I can't wait to see some knuckle-headed organization give Dempster 4 or 5 years at $12M or so per, and watch him pitch like the REAL Ryan Dempster, and not that imposter the Cubs magically found (not surprisingly, in a contract year) this year.
    — RollinsWasRight
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:32 AM, 11/06/2008
    I guess we are now in the silly season. I guess something has to be posted daily in the off-season to keep the paycheck rolling until ESPN comes calling.
    — Truth
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:46 AM, 11/06/2008
    The Cubs need another starting pitcher as much as Tommy Lasorda needs another plate of Lasagna. They have more pressing needs, like a CF and a good lefthanded hitter with some power.
    — EL Zorro
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:57 AM, 11/06/2008
    Yeah, the Cubs pitching was great in the playoffs...not!!!
    — jeff gross
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:03 PM, 11/06/2008
    jeff: You got your wish. I saw where Murphy reported today that the Phillies are trying to get Jason Donald some exposure at 3b. Good call. The Phils should be calling you with that job offer any day now... :)
    — RollinsWasRight
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:05 PM, 11/06/2008
    Zambrano slide-tackling an umpire... come on, that was pretty funny!
    — RollinsWasRight
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:07 PM, 11/06/2008
    I am hiring Boras as my agent. I figue he'll get me a 31 year contract paying 230 million a year to drink coffee and hit on the woman in the organizaton (LMFAO)
    — jeff gross
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:10 PM, 11/06/2008
    It's no the first time teams with good pitching failed in the post season and it won't be the last. The Baltimore Orioles, with a rotation of Jim Palmer, Mike Cuellar, Pat Dobson and Dave McNally, lost to the Pittsburg Pirates in the 1971 World Series.
    — EL Zorro
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:30 PM, 11/06/2008
    As we saw this post season with our beloved Phils, good pitching usually trumps good hitting in the playoffs. The greatest W.S. series pitching performance of all time probably belongs to the 1963 Dodgers. Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, and Johnny Podres held the hard hitting Yankees (Mantle, Maris, Howard, etc.) to only four runs in four games. Those games were played October 5-11 BTW. Bring back the doubleheaders.
    — RAS
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:35 PM, 11/06/2008
    El Zorro, great memories that Orioles team. That may have been the best pitching staff ever assembled. Braves were great. But baseball in that era was a much better game. Jim Leland ? Apologies ? Give Ed Wade his due ? And please explain to everybody, how did everyone get the egg off their face. Charlie's press conferences even sound lucid.. Charlie, you go boy !
    — pat h
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:38 PM, 11/06/2008
    I think Chuck should name one of his players as his running mate. It would be a landslide!
    — Norma
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 12:59 PM, 11/06/2008
    I'm *shocked* that Brett Myers is a Republican.
    — Hamhock Jones


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Bob Brookover and Matt Gelb team up for their third straight season covering the Phillies for the Inquirer and philly.com.

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