Bowa, Manuel handle their emotions differently

INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

2003:

In his final full season as manager of the Phillies, Larry Bowa tried his best to get the team into the playoffs, but often did it by leaving no doubt with his players as to how he felt. After his team was swept in four games by the Expos in late August in Montreal, Bowa blew up, delivering one of the worst explosions of his managerial career. Veteran Jim Thome said he had never seen Bowa so angry. "I'm not calm. I'm not happy. I'm miserable," Bowa said before the game that prompted the outburst. There was a period earlier in the season in which general manager Ed Wade told Bowa to be more positive in the dugout after management had sought out player opinion. But the Phillies never made the playoffs when Bowa was in charge, and he was bounced late in the 2004 season.

2008:

The Phillies don't seem to do much screaming, none that can be heard in public areas, anyway. The closest obvious moment of dissent came on Aug. 9 when Brett Myers became visibly upset on the mound when manager Charlie Manuel went out to call for a relief pitcher. "This is my [expletive] game," Myers could be seen as saying. Manuel went after Myers following his return to the dugout, and the two argued in the dugout and then in the tunnel leading to the clubhouse. They quickly patched up their differences - "It was just two strong-willed people disagreeing," Manuel said. Manuel also benched shortstop Jimmy Rollins twice - once for not running out a pop-up, and the other time for being late for a game at Shea Stadium when he got caught in traffic.

Average price of a gallon of gas:

$1.63.

Phillies' record:

86-76, third place.

Phillies' attendance:

2,259,948.

Phillies' first-round pick:

None.

Remember this?

The world's biggest hailstone falls on Aurora, Neb. (It's reported to be the size of the cheese ball at Andy Reid's Christmas party.)