Manuel Labor
The Inquirer is reporting tonight that Charlie Manuel will be introduced formally as the Phillies' next manager tomorrow:
Interesting note about the players' private campaign. My gut told me Leyland was the better choice, but I'm okay with Manuel. (And Tom Goodman should be really happy.) Much as the Flyers accommodated Keith Primeau & Co. in cashiering Bill Barber, Ed Wade now have given the Phillies players what they wanted. And much as the Flyers told Primeau and his mates that the onus was off Ken Hitchcock and on the guys on the ice, the Phils now must accept that it's put-up or shut-up time.
Manuel's two seasons working for the Phillies afforded him the opportunity to gain knowledge of the roster he is taking over. The players also became familiar with him. Manuel has a more easy-going personality than Bowa and several players privately campaigned for him to get the job.
Manuel won out over Jim Leyland, who led the Florida Marlins to the 1997 World Series titles. Leyland badly wanted the job. He was the final candidate to interview, and he impressed club officials. But in the end, Manuel was the man they wanted.
Again.
posted by The Art of Rory @ 9:42 PM
1 comments
1 Comments:
Really Happy? Well, I am willing to admit to satisfied. But the real issue for me was and remains that the Phillies can move on and no longer make the manager the focus. They had enough of that the last four years. I think Manuel is going to be one of those managers who stays more or less in the background, at least publicly, and lets the players take center stage. That description might even fit someone like Bobby Cox, too. The Phillies could do a lot worse!!
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