The Phillies' skipper is not the National League manager of the year.
More than anyone else, he is responsible for the franchise's first playoff appearance in 14 years.
Despite injuries to key players and a shaky pitching staff, Manuel kept his team focused, enthusiastic and driven through the ups and downs of a 162-game marathon.
When everyone else had given up on them, Manuel managed to keep his team believing - no small task when you're seven games out with 17 to go.
Still, despite the marvelous job Manuel did in guiding the Phillies to the 2007 National League East crown, he is not the NL manager of the year.
In fact, he might actually finish fourth behind the other three managers whose teams are participating in the National League Division Series.
You can debate how fine the lines are among the jobs that Manuel, Colorado Rockies manager Clint Hurdle and Chicago Cubs skipper Lou Piniella did, but the clear NL manager of the year is Bob Melvin, of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In a sport where veteran experience is considered a must for playoff teams, Melvin guided a team that featured 15 players who made their major league debuts in 2003 or later to the National League West.
When the D-backs face the Cubs tonight, four rookies - shortstop Stephen Drew, third baseman Mark Reynolds and outfielders Justin Upton and Chris Young - could be in the starting lineup.
In a sport where money talks, Melvin's roster cost a modest $53 million - $13 million of which is going to players no longer with the team.
In a game where runs are supposed to matter, Melvin's Diamondbacks defied the odds and made the playoffs by giving up 20 more runs than they scored, finishing 26th in runs and 29th in batting.
Arizona had no .300 hitters and just one player who hit more than 21 home runs (Young with 32.)
The Phillies lost starters Freddy Garcia and Jon Lieber. Arizona got just 10 starts from future Hall of Famer Randy Johnson.
Still, despite their youth and injuries, the Diamondbacks managed to win a league-best 90 games - all while the Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers were chasing them in the most competitive division in baseball.
"I think people thought we were going to go away as the season went along," said Melvin, who began the season with a team that was seen as building for the future. "The deeper we got to the finish line, I think there was a lot of speculation that the team was going to roll under, and it didn't."
Again, the job Manuel did in keeping the Phillies churning amid adversity cannot be overlooked, but he had a reigning National League MVP in Ryan Howard, chronologically young but nonetheless established veterans in Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Pat Burrell and Aaron Rowand.
Even though most of the Phillies' regulars had never been to the playoffs, they did experience several pennant races.
The Phillies had enough players who were familiar with the pressures that went along with that.
Melvin didn't have the advantage of age or experience.
Yet, he managed to successfully guide a team primarily comprised of novices through the highs and lows of their first pennant race.
As a player, Melvin made his debut in 1985 on a Detroit Tigers team that featured savvy veterans like Jack Morris, Kirk Gibson, Alan Trammell, Lou Whitaker and Lance Parrish.
In his first managerial position, he replaced Pinella in Seattle - inheriting a veteran Mariners team in the midst of a strong playoff run.
The Diamondbacks he's taken to the playoffs are the polar opposite of those teams.
"I don't know that I've been on team where it's been rookie laden as we are here," Melvin said. "A lot of people ask me what style of manager are you?
"I think it's more about the group that you have. I have to acclimate to the group. We do have a lot of inexperience this year, yet we felt like as a staff we could probably influence this group more so than other groups. It's been a very rewarding year as far as my managerial seasons."
It should be rewarded with a manager of the year trophy. *
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