Posted on Sat, Jul. 26, 2008
With the Phillies a second-place team as they reported to work yesterday and the benching of
Jimmy Rollins still fresh in the minds of the players, manager
Charlie Manuel thought the time was right to call a meeting.
The 20-minute pregame confab behind closed doors was held because "I just wanted to talk to them. . . . I had some things to say," Manuel said, indicating it was not a response to Rollins' reporting late for Thursday's game against the New York Mets.
Manuel declined to be specific about what he said to his team other than "to get things kind of right, and let it go." Centerfielder
Shane Victorino said the manager's speech was "more along the line of where we should be going, just trying to sit us down and giving us a pep talk."
"I think that was nice, to have our manager sit us all down," he said. "It's time for us to get going as a team, not so much a wake-up call, but I don't think it was so much to sit down and yell at us. As a team, it's time for us to collectively . . . get going. Hey, we're a good team. I think we're a better team than what we've been playing."
Manuel cited the need for the Phillies to improve, especially after a 2-4 trip in which Florida and the Mets, both division rivals, beat them in two of three games. The Phils opened a three-game series last night against Atlanta.
"There's something missing on our team," the manager said. "It's like that little extra kick we had or that resilient effort. That road trip was a good example of that. We beat [Florida] the first night and had a real good game, and then we lost the next two. We did the same thing in New York.
"[
Jamie]
Moyer pitched a good game [Thursday], and in Miami, [
Cole]
Hamels pitched a super game. We're not winning series. We need to get that whatever you call it - that shine - back."
As for Rollins' role in getting back whatever is missing, Manuel said he believes that his shortstop can "get right."
"I think he's that type of player, and he has that type of swing, and I think it's just a matter of time. As a matter of fact, I think lately he's definitely been swinging better."
Much has been said recently about the Phillies' lack of leaders in the clubhouse. But Manuel said the manager should fill in any gaps in leadership.
"Sometimes the players' being the leaders is fine, but when that doesn't happen, I guess that's when the manager is supposed to be the leader," he said. "That's kind of how I look at it. I've always looked at myself that if I'm the manager, I'm the guy that's supposed to be the leader. But anytime you've got leaders on your team, that's like a bonus and makes everything a lot better."
The Phillies are in the middle of 12 consecutive games against National League East opponents. They have eight more in August, and then finish with 21 of their last 25 against teams from their division.
While conceding that his team has holes, Manuel said he thinks they can repeat.
"I look at teams in our division, and I've said all along it's pretty close," he said. "Other teams have holes, too, but that doesn't mean we have to have holes. In some ways, that might not be a good answer. I think we definitely can win."
Feliz out
Phillies third baseman
Pedro Feliz was a late scratch from the starting lineup after experiencing back spasms during batting practice. He was replaced by
Greg Dobbs. Feliz had gone only 1 for 21 (.048) on the recent six-game trip and is batting .256 for the season.
Hampton's return
The Braves announced that injury-plagued lefthander
Mike Hampton would start today's game, his first start in nearly three years.
Hampton, 35, last pitched on Aug. 19, 2005, against San Diego. Since then, he has experienced more than his share of hard luck.
In September 2005, Hampton underwent Tommy John surgery to replace a ligament in his pitching arm and missed the 2006 season.
His comeback attempt in 2007 was thwarted when he was diagnosed with a torn flexor tendon in his left elbow, forcing him to sit out that season.
He appeared ready to open the 2008 season but strained his left pectoral muscle 10 minutes before his initial scheduled start on April 3. He went to the minors for a rehabilitation start on July 16 but was scratched with a left groin strain.
Contact staff writer Joe Juliano at 215-854-4494 or jjuliano@phillynews.com.
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