PHILADELPHIA (AP) -Charlie Manuel looked on from the dugout while his players celebrated a division championship, and sat in his office after they took the party back on the field.
Ryan Howard, Jimmy Rollins, even the placid Chase Utley took turns addressing fans who stayed around in the rain to watch the Philadelphia Phillies spray champagne and beer after clinching their second straight NL East title.
But none of the die-hards were ready to leave just yet.
They chanted: “Charlie! Charlie! Charlie!”
Finally, the tough-to-please Philly fans showed Manuel some well-deserved appreciation. Though he’d rather let his players get all the accolades, the much-maligned manager answered the curtain call.
The crowd roared when Manuel came out from the clubhouse. Not known for his public speaking skills, Manuel grabbed a microphone and promised this championship-starved city the Phillies would do better than last year’s first-round sweep against Colorado.
the first time in 15 years.
They’ll meet the Los Angeles Dodgers with a trip to the World Series at stake, starting at home with Game 1 Thursday. It’s farther than many critics thought the Phillies would ever go with Manuel in charge.
“He came to Philly very vulnerable as a manager. His laid-back, easygoing personality, the opposite of Larry Bowa, usually doesn’t work in this city, but he’s won it over,” Phillies Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt said in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Monday. “He’s created a comfortable, low pressure, working environment for his players, and they are responding.”
Since replacing the popular Bowa after the 2004 season, Manuel has led the Phillies to more wins (354) than any other manager in franchise history in his first four years. He’s only the second manager to lead them to consecutive division titles.
Despite the success, many people focus more on his personality.
Born in West Virginia and raised in Virginia, the 64-year-old Manuel comes across as someone from a mix of “The Dukes of Hazzard” and “The Andy Griffith Show.”
Manuel has been criticized for his in-game strategy and ridiculed for his accent – thick Appalachian drawl – and elocution. He’s been booed during pitching changes, constantly second-guessed and intensely scrutinized.
Manuel learned to ignore the negativity a long time ago.
s it bothered me a little bit,” Manuel told the AP. “But the more I thought about it, I definitely tried not paying attention to it.
“I understand people are always going to say something and there’s critics out there that don’t like you. But putting all that in perspective, I can’t let things like that bother me.”
Whatever the outside opinions, the team loves playing for Manuel. He keeps the atmosphere light, allows his players to relax and gives them a better opportunity to perform.
His knowledge of the game is underscored in Philadelphia, but respected baseball insiders give Manuel credit.
“Charlie is one of the most honest, trustworthy, passionate baseball men I’ve ever met,” Schmidt said in his e-mail. “He’s a very secure individual, always keeps things in perspective, and never overreacts to the little issues that arise over the long season.
“Charlie is happy working anywhere in the game, and never changes. I’ve never heard him say a bad thing about another person,” he said.
If the Phillies are struggling and losses are piling up, Manuel rarely shows his frustrations publicly. He prefers staying positive, and players feed off that energy.
“He has the ability to not add any extra pressure on his players,” backup catcher Chris Coste said. “When he walks into a room, he has the ability to put smiles on people’s faces. He is kind of like your favorite uncle.”
uel is no pushover, however.
He can be tough on guys, if necessary. Manuel yanked Rollins, the reigning NL MVP, from a game in early June after he failed to run hard on a popup that was dropped. In July, he benched Rollins for arriving late to the ballpark for an important game against the New York Mets at Shea Stadium.
Neither incident hurt Manuel’s relationship with Rollins, the dynamic shortstop who is the team’s offensive catalyst from the leadoff spot. Players know Manuel has two rules: Hustle and be on time. Follow his simple commandments and it’s easy to get along with the jolly skipper.
“I think the most important thing that he brings to the table is the fact that no matter how big the game is or the situation, you’re going to get the same guy,” left fielder Pat Burrell said. “You’re going to get the same guy win or lose. You’re going to have your ups and downs, but he seems to keep a pretty even keel.”
Manuel certainly wasn’t the people’s choice when former general manager Ed Wade gave him his second managerial job in the majors. Most fans wanted Jim Leyland, the former Pirates and Marlins manager who led Florida to a World Series title. Leyland got a token interview with the Phillies, but eventually landed in Detroit and led the Tigers to the AL championship in his first season in 2006.
rst two seasons, getting eliminated during the final weekend both times.
Entering the last season of his contract, Manuel was a lame-duck manager in 2007. Even though GM Pat Gillick never said it directly, the Phillies probably had to reach the postseason to save Manuel’s job.
A poor start and a slew of injuries to key players made it difficult, but the Phillies rallied from being seven games behind the Mets with 17 to play to capture the division crown. But they seemed too satisfied with ending a 13-year postseason drought and were swept by the surging Rockies.
Manuel got a new, two-year contract with a club option for 2010 less than a week after last season ended. If he leads the Phillies to the second World Series title in their 126-year history, he can probably stay as long as he wants.
Add A Comment