Phillies make right move with Manuel

By Jared Trexler
The Phanatic Magazine

Philadelphia, PA -- At times during Game 2 of the National League Division Series, I wondered if Charlie Manuel was drinking on the job.

Yes, he so much as admitted to an after-dinner drink with a late-night heap of West Coast baseball during the season's final pressurized week. But, I'm talking about during the game. His own game.

The way he sauntered, swinging his portly posterior back and forth to the pitcher's mound, was no different, but his purpose lacked common sense. Taking your starting pitcher out of a game with the lead, in the fourth inning, when he had thrown just 65 pitches makes little sense.

Then take a look at the Phillies bullpen. Manuel's move to Kyle Lohse for Kyle Kendrick not only resulted in a game-breaking grand slam off the bat of Kaz Matsui, but it also guaranteed the Phillies would need to use the soft under-belly of their bullpen at some point. Jose Mesa and Clay Condrey entered and exited to a vigorous chorus of hoots and hollers.

Yet, despite Manuel's mistake, the Phillies bats still did little to overshadow the blunder. The National League's best run-scoring offense over 162 games fell flat, swinging at air, during a three-game sweep at the hands of the Rockies.

So, to judge Uncle Charlie's performance based on one series wouldn't have been just. After all, he managed a team to a division title with the league's worst statistical starting pitcher (Adam Eaton), an ancient southpaw pitching the deciding final day (Jamie Moyer), an ace on the shelf for a month during the stretch drive (Cole Hamels) and the aforementioned Kendrick as the club's second option -- a Double-A right-hander working his way through six innings at Reading and places like Trenton and Altoona before his call-up.

Also, you couldn't help but feel the clubhouse chemistry on a daily basis, the overarching emotions of a team never changing after a win or loss. The Phillies never felt the emotional ebb and flow during a season of on-field ups and downs. Manuel's easygoing demeanor and positive attitude are to thank for that.

The core group that ownership is banking on taking this team to the World Series -- Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Cole Hamels -- loves playing for Manuel, and each put up All-Star numbers under his watch this season.

Happiness can not be discredited.

So yes, the media must waddle through at least two more years of muddled dialect at the podium, but fans would surely sacrifice a manager's on-camera persona for on-field results.

The chance for greatness is there. And Charlie will lead the way.