Phillies' Manuel will finally take a break

For Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, this off-season will really be an off-season.

"He should go hibernate," general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said.

Amaro delivered that message to Manuel in person after the Phils' bid to repeat as World Series champions came to an end Wednesday night in a loss at Yankee Stadium.

Over the last two seasons, no major-league skipper has participated in more games than Manuel, who has presided twice over spring training, taken two trips to the World Series, and managed an All-Star Game.

Off the field, Manuel spent last winter fulfilling countless media requests, tending to team promotional obligations, and enjoying the spoils that go with winning a World Series. He also attended the general managers' meetings last November and the winter meetings in December.

Manuel, 65, has been so consumed by baseball since the start of spring training in February 2008 that he barely had time to grieve when his mother, June, died during the Phils' march to the World Series title in October 2008.

This winter will be different. The fast-forward button will be turned off. Manuel will spend some time catching his breath before another spring training begins in mid-February.

Manuel is not scheduled to attend the GM meetings, which will be held tomorrow through Wednesday in Chicago, and Amaro hopes Manuel takes the Joe Torre approach and skips the winter meetings next month in Indianapolis.

"We can communicate by phone,'' Amaro said.

Manuel, who survived a heart attack in 1998 and kidney cancer in 2000, said he was in good health. He is happy with the results of an in-season Nutrisystem diet that helped him lose more than 40 pounds. Still, he said he is ready for some downtime over the next few months. He intends to play some golf in Winter Haven, Fla., where he makes his off-season home, and he might fire up the backyard grill a time or two.

"I'm looking forward to going home and taking it easy, relaxing a little,'' he said. "It seems like it's been a steady go for a couple of years, but at the same time everything about it has been good. These have been my two best years in baseball. The last three, really, have been great.''

Manuel took over as Phillies manager before the 2005 season. He and Danny Ozark (1976-78) are the only two Phillies managers to preside over three straight division championship teams.

The success has made Manuel popular with the media. Last winter, he made a special trip to Buena Vista, Va., the town in which he was raised, for a lengthy interview with HBO.

Greg Casterioto, the Phils' director of baseball communications, handles much of Manuel's media and promotional requests. Casterioto said he would be judicious with requests for Manuel's time this winter.

Pesky reporters who try to call Manuel will find that he's changed his cell phone number. Manuel actually did that during the summer after some fans got hold of it.

Yo, Chuck, it's Fat Freddie from the bleachers. How come you didn't pinch-hit in the seventh inning last night? Aw right. Holler.

"He needs a break,'' Casterioto said. "We're going to pick and choose what we ask him to do. We won the World Series last year and he did everything we asked. He was great. This winter, he's going to go golfing and fishing, clear his mind and live a little.

"This game can catch up with you. This off-season is going to be his break.''

Manuel is the fourth-oldest manager in the majors behind Torre (69) of the Los Angeles Dodgers, Atlanta's Bobby Cox (68), and the Chicago Cubs' Lou Piniella (66). Manuel is several months older than Toronto's Cito Gaston and St. Louis' Tony La Russa, who are also 65. Detroit's Jim Leyland will turn 65 in December.

Amaro made a point to say that there are no concerns about Manuel's health.

"He's in great shape, as strong as ever,'' Amaro said.

"I feel great,'' Manuel said.

The Phillies released their spring training schedule on Friday. They open at home on March 4 with a World Series rematch against the New York Yankees.

Manuel will be ready for that one - maybe sooner than you think.

"I'm sure after a few days at home, I'll be ready to get to spring training and start over again,'' he said.