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There's no denying it or ignoring it. Tonight's game, the first without Charlie Manuel as manager since 2005, is going to be weird. He won't be there on the dugout railing watching the game or talking hitting with Jimmy Rollins or Darin Ruf. We won't see him trot out to the mound anymore to pull a pitcher.
Tonight's game is against the Dodgers, who are unbelievably hot right now. This tidbit is from Joecatz: on July 19, both the Phillies and the Dodgers were one game over .500. Since then, the Phillies have won just one more game (4) than the Dodgers have lost (3). That's... sobering.
But sobering seems to be tonight's theme. Cliff Lee and Zack Greinke are starting. That won't be what's on my mind, though.
Discuss the game in the comments below.