Under the radar, Charlie Manuel works magic
Posted: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 1:30 PM
There was a great scene in Game 4 of the National League Championship Series as Matt Stairs blasted a pinch-hit home run in the eighth inning to give the Phillies a 7-5 lead and eventual win over the Dodgers. As Stairs returned to the dugout, Geoff Jenkins went up behind manager Charlie Manuel and embraced him with a huge bear hug.
Manuel is the least heralded successful manager in the game. The man often dismissed for his Appalachian drawl and simple straightforward demeanor has done nothing but win as a manager, taking two teams (the Indians and Phillies) to the postseason on multiple occasions. All six of his managerial seasons have been winning ones, none with less than 85 victories.
Interesting contrast, is it not, that of Manuel and Tigers manager Jim Leyland. It is Leyland who just oversaw one of the game’s greatest underachieving seasons, his second consecutive season in Detroit without making the playoffs despite a huge payroll, and in return he has received little heat. In fact, Leyland wondered publicly why he did not receive a contract extension.
Meanwhile, Manuel is virtually anonymous until we learn of his mother’s passing last Friday and his decision to keep managing in the NLCS and not take any bereavement leave. Why that choice from someone who was so close to his mom? Because she would have wanted it that way said Manuel.
Manuel seldom makes headlines no matter how well the Phillies are playing but he did draw plenty of attention during the season when he disciplined the team’s star shortstop Jimmy Rollins. And that’s why the Jenkins hug stood out as it served to show the world that Manuel retained the respect of his team through the Rollins incident.
This blog advocated earlier this summer that the judgment on a manager (see Willie Randolph) should be tied to the development of a club’s best young player(s). Thus, Rollins becomes Manuel’s greatest endorsement. The shortstop floundered under former Phillies manager Larry Bowa, a relationship that suffered due to the clear mismatch between the player and his highly intense manager. Since Manuel arrived in 2005, Rollins has blossomed into a MVP. And he has played like one since the midseason disciplinary action.
Then there are Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, two homegrown products who have also bloomed into All-Stars on Manuel’s watch. And Manuel first became known as Jim Thome’s hitting guru, a relationship that played a huge role in Manuel’s managing opportunities, though more so in Cleveland. But now with what the Phillies have shown us, we know what Thome long ago recognized: Charlie Manuel is among the best at what he does.
FIVE MORE SWINGS:
1. WHY PHILADELPHIA’S PAT GILLICK IS A GREAT GM: Shane Victorino has been a postseason star for the Phillies. How many fans remember that Gillick let Aaron Rowand walk after 2007, gambling that an injury-prone Victorino could be Rowand’s replacement. Not only has Victorino stayed healthy, his influence has spread from a top-of-the-order spark to a middle-of-the-order threat. Rowand suffered a horrid second half (one RBI in September) in the first year of a huge deal with the Giants.
2. TRUST THE YOUNG ONES…is a trend that has continued in the postseason. Tampa Bay has David Price, its No. 1 pick in 2007 draft, on its ALCS roster and the Dodgers have 20-year-old lefty Clayton Kershaw on their NLCS roster. Granted, both are in the bullpen, but neither Joe Maddon nor Joe Torre is shying away from calling on these talented arms no matter how intense the situation in a postseason game.
3. THAT NO ORGANIZATION IS PERFECT WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING MOVES…came to mind again in watching Matt Garza pitch Tampa Bay to a huge win in Game 3 of the ALCS. His performance drove home the reality of a rare occurrence: that the Twins, who traded Garza to the Rays last offseason, may have been bettered in a deal.
That usually doesn’t happen to Minnesota but the Twins became frustrated with Garza last year when he repeatedly butted heads with Triple-A staff. The Minnesota organization tolerates no dissent so it packaged Garza with out-of-favor shortstop Jason Bartlett (who made crucial defensive mistakes in the 2006 postseason) and Eduardo Morlan for Delmon Young, Brendan Harris and Jason Pridie.
By no means is the trade a disaster for Minnesota as Young and Harris contributed to the Twins strong season but seeing Garza smother the Red Sox bats, despite Boston’s adherence to its work-the-pitch-count approach, highlighted his potential as a top-of-the-rotation starter.
4. ANOTHER DOSE OF REALITY FOR BASEBALL’S POSTSEASON: Didn’t realize until Joe Buck made mention of it that the NLCS takes a night off between Games 4 and 5. This is unprecedented. Why? Could it have anything to do with Fox wanting to air “House”, TV’s top-rated prime time show? This is why the LDS will not become a best-of-seven series. Television networks have no desire for more playoff baseball.
5. ALBERT PUJOLS JUST KEEPS ON PLUGGING: He had another MVP- caliber season, hitting .357 while battling numbness in his forearm and hand. He had surgery to relieve nerve irritation that was the root cause. It was not the major reconstructive surgery that has long been recommended for his elbow but Pujols believes he can continue to play first base, which has minimal throwing demands, without having Tommy John surgery.
