Sandberg promoted to Phillies staff
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Sandberg promoted to Phillies staff
Ryan Lawrence
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.
if Raul Ibanez were worth $36 million for 3 years, then why wasn't he worth $1.1 million for one?— warbiscuit- Why does the GM need an excuse to bump Charlie somewhere else? Because if they fire Charlie now they'll owe him more money than the Phillies are willing to pay, or because they think if they fire Charlie Manuel now they'll take a PR hit, or suffer a player revolt? How is it going to look when the Phillies are dead last in the NL East at the end of May, because Charlie has no bench coach to tell him what to do, and Dubee is just as useless as an adviser to Charlie as he's always been? Won't the Phillies take a PR hit then for throwing away the 2013 season?— Freedom Fries
- Bobby Valentine was as dumb a color commentator as Wheels, so why did the Red Sox think he'd be a capable manager? At least the Phillies haven't tried to promote Wheels to Phillies manager, yet.— Freedom Fries
- I wish I felt better about these moves. I sure wish all of them the best.— sillybilly
- So, my wife's friend, Mickey, goes from bullpen and catching coach to "being promoted" to one of the two positions he previously held, catching coach? Ryno is the third base coach? Henderson and Nicols. OK. But, no bench coach? There is something wrong with the report. My bet is that Mickey stays as the BP coach, Ryno is the bench coach, Sammy goes to 1B coach, and either Henderson or Nicols are the new 3B coach.— Squonk64
- New guys in place. Sandberg/Nichols/Henderson. About time.— alwaysphil1
- I like the moves except for Sammy. If they like him that much, I'd send him to the minors for more coaching experience. I would've made Ryno the bench coach and looked to see what kind of contract Lopes has left, then concede they made the mistake and ask him back. I would've also asked if Bowa wanted to come back as a 3rd base coach. He was to crazy for a manager, but he knew baserunners and outfielders strength and weaknesses. Ryno on the bench would give the players a taste of what they'll have to do....he'll be like Utley, but with words. He won't take chicken $%#T excuses or efforts.— WBFO
- I will add to the moron suggesstions: Sign Freddie Mitchell— NewMick314
- It would be nice if Ryno had ever done anything. He's a great guy and obviously was a great player but he's never managed a big league game. Wonder what he would've done with Rollins doggin it???— Hitman20
- "Less than 48 hours ago, Charlie Manuel didn't sound like a man with a plan to overhaul his coaching staff." These moves were made by Amaro, not Manuel. When you're not happy with a coach, you just let him go. These guys were let go specifically to immediately replace them with someone else. Manuel was happy with his coaches, but Amaro wanted to get some new blood in there.
— JimG - The real reason for no bench coach: Cholly probably didn't want anybody sitting behind him yelling for him to sit down and shut the hell up. Mackinin said that bubble gum chewing hillbilly can get pretty annoying at times. Mack said Cholly would have loud conversations with himself, about his playing days back in Japan and even speak Redneck Japanese. All this when the rest of the staff is trying to win a GD baseball game!— cooperhawk
- Who is going to chart the pitches now that Dubee is the de facto bench coach. What a mess. LOL— Dull
- Minimal changes for '13............they're going to "hope & pray" that the fountain of youth is discovered this offseason - and there won't be a lot of money tossed around in the FA market............watch it play out.— Northcountry
- This sets us up for another train wreck in 2013. Charlie doesn't sound like a guy who is looking to be replaced. They should've fired the whole crew, brought in Francona for the bench and a legit GM. That's what a big budget team would do after this fiasco. But the social club that is Phillies management is primarily concerned with keeping people happy and keeping the peace.— jtj06
