The Good Phight - End of an Era: Charlie Manuel No Longer Phillies ManagerSmall victories, large defeats.https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/33221/favicon.ico2013-08-19T10:58:22-04:00http://www.thegoodphight.com/rss/stream/43930192013-08-19T10:58:22-04:002013-08-19T10:58:22-04:00The Manuel Firing: Three Thoughts
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<figcaption>Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>A few belated musings on the dismissal of the greatest manager in franchise history.</p> <p>With all the talk earlier this season about the pending departure of one or more among the Final Five <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> left from the team that won the 2008 <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a>, few raised the possibility that a sixth uniformed member of that team, manager Charlie Manuel, might leave town the soonest of any of them. But while Ruben Amaro couldn't or wouldn't trade any of <span>Cole Hamels</span>, <span>Carlos Ruiz</span>, <span>Ryan Howard</span>, <span>Chase Utley</span>, and <span>Jimmy Rollins</span> as the trade deadline came and went and the team fell from plausible contention into a baseball K-hole where they might reside awhile, it was Charlie that walked the plank.</p>
<p>Returning from a weekend with friends in Montreal--a city that knows from baseball pain--I'm a little late to the party here, and as always <a target="_blank" href="http://www.thegoodphight.com/2013/8/16/4628978/end-of-an-era-charlie-manuel-steps-aside">my TGP compatriots have superbly told the story</a>. But I did want to add three thoughts before this episode fades into the ongoing bruise of a nightmare season.</p>
<p>1)<span> <span> </span></span>I found the news shocking--in that after nearly nine years and an unprecedented run of success, it's just weird to think of the Phillies managed by anyone other than ol' Chuck--but not entirely surprising. In fact, the circumstances around Manuel's firing last week are <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2002/07/12/sports/baseball-cleveland-fires-manuel-in-dispute-over-contract.html" target="_blank">uncannily similar to those under which he left the 2002 Indians in midseason</a>: facing something between a reload and a rebuild, a clearly ambivalent GM, Mark Shapiro, wouldn't commit to retaining him in the dugout beyond the season, but wanted to keep him through the end of the year and long-term in some role. Charlie didn't wish to go along ("I didn't want to be in limbo"), and the result was something like a mutual breakup. The Tribe even replaced him on an interim basis with the third base coach; let's hope Ryne Sandberg has a longer and more distinguished managerial run than did Joel Skinner.</p>
<p>2)<span> </span>Much as I love Charlie and always will, and would have done everything possible to keep him in place through the end of this season, I don't think it's unreasonable to assert that he's not the right man for this team at this time. <i>Cleveland Plain Dealer</i> columnist Bill Livingston (who also <a href="http://www.cleveland.com/livingston/index.ssf/2013/08/the_second_firing_of_the_under.html%20" target="_blank">noted the similarities to Manuel's 2002 break-up with the Tribe</a>) made this point obliquely, as have others: Manuel<span> does extremely well with a veteran team with an established leadership core and mostly defined roles. His strengths as a manager are in the handling of egos and setting a tone in the clubhouse, not in-game tactical maneuvering. </span><span>Given much better health and a little more talent on hand, a better tactician--Buck Showalter, or the late Billy Martin--might have been able to keep the 2013 Phillies on the periphery of the playoff race. Might have. But that guy would have been absolutely wrong for the 2005-11 Phillies, and that wasn't the deal Manuel signed up for this season; Amaro thought he was giving Charlie a roster that could compete. As others have noted, this is the real problem: this team consistently fails to effectively evaluate non-elite players. </span></p>
<p><span>Nor is Charlie the guy to oversee the mass auditions that obviously will be the main order of business for the last 40 or so games of 2013. It's not that he can't develop young talent or is afraid to give young players a shot; quite the contrary, as <span>Jayson Werth</span>, <span>Shane Victorino</span>, <span>J.A. Happ</span>, <span>Vance Worley</span>, <span>Kyle Kendrick</span>, <span>Ryan Madson</span> and many others could tell you. (And even in the last couple weeks, he seemed happy to give <span>Darin Ruf</span> and <span>Cody Asche</span> their shots.) But he was mostly able to work in the Werths and Worleys because there was a lot of certainty elsewhere on the roster; for most of his tenure, probably 16-18 spots on the 25 man were clearly accounted for, meaning that Manuel had time to figure out the last 7-9. This year, maybe six to eight spots were solidly filled. For a 69 year old man with a championship pedigree, only two years removed from a 102 win team, that had to be a jarring adjustment. </span></p>
<p>3)<span> </span>I'm really trying to guard against<span> confirmation bias in evaluating any move the Phillies make now; just because so many recent decisions have gone poorly doesn't mean that every single one is indefensibly dumb. Even so, I worry that the bad optics and clumsy handling here will burn the team for awhile to come. If Twitter is any gauge (admittedly a big if), the perception is that a clueless organization put their greatest leader in an impossible situation, then jettisoned him in a transparent attempt to distract disgruntled fans. This could impair efforts to recruit players and, for that matter, coaching staff, including a manager if Sandberg isn't retained. </span></p>
<p><span>At the least, the days of players affirmatively choosing Philadelphia, and even taking less money to suit up for the Phils, are now over. Part of it, of course, is that the team is less attractive because they're no longer a championship favorite. But another part is that a man who's universally respected and widely loved within the game is no longer in place, and likely will have less than totally warm things to say to anyone who asks about it.</span></p>
https://www.thegoodphight.com/2013/8/19/4636042/the-manuel-firing-three-thoughtsdajafi2013-08-16T21:45:39-04:002013-08-16T21:45:39-04:00Catz corner: On Charlie, Ruben and integrity
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<p>I remember the first time I had to fire someone like it was yesterday. For those of you who've never experienced it, it sucks. Whether the person deserves it, stabbed you in the back, or was a valued employee being downsized, the idea of taking away someones livelihood is gut wrenching. Everyone reacts differently. I've had people throw things at me, I've had people hug me, I've had people thank me, hell, I've had a few tell me to go screw myself.</p>
<p>But I've fired more people than I care to remember, and I will say that one thing I have never done, is allowed someone to take the fall for my mistakes. Ever.</p>
<p>I've fought for people from time to time. Especially when I know in my heart that the reason they've "failed" is because I failed them.</p>
<p>I've been fired once in my life. And I was fired because I couldn't sit by and watch someone else take the blame for my mistake. I needed the job, I needed the money, but damn if I knew at the time that I didn't need the shadow of integrity following me around as I pretended to work a lie for the next six months. I wasn't raised that way. I have no problem saving my own ass. Just not at the expense of someone who saved it for me consistently for five years as I bungled my way around a job while I was clearly in over my head.</p>
<p>Watching Ruben Amaro get choked up the way he did today at the press conference said more to me about the state of this organization than anything else over the past five years. It said more to me about Ruben, who obviously disagreed in some form with this decision. You saw a man up on that stage today who knows that he put Charlie where he ended up. He knows he was a scapegoat. You saw it in his eyes and heard it in his tears as they paraded the dogs and ponies through the uncharacteristically pointed questions from the beats.</p>
<p>It said more to me about the ownership group, and what they really care about (saving face and a television deal, re-branding the franchise and turning around the ship) versus what they should care about (severe disconnect in the fan base, loyalty and dignity), as they watched silently from the back of the room. Not a peep, but a watchful eye on the proceedings. If you didn't think that ownership puts their hands in the cookie jar before today, and this situation doesn't change that opinion I don't know what will.</p>
<p>But it also said more to me about Charlie Manuel than I ever thought I could know. A man with class, and grace, and honesty, and above all else, integrity.</p>
<p>Integrity. At the end of the day that's what breeds loyalty. And in the end that is the single most important trait in a leader. Charlie's integrity was evident when he made no bones about not being a quitter. Say and think what you want about what he's done the past year or so, how he managed a bullpen, but Charlie Manuel was not the reason the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/">Phillies</a> sucked this season. His eyes told you that. They told you all you needed to know. It was evident when he said he didn't know if he wanted a figurehead post, and it was evident when he looked at Ruben Amaro.</p>
<p>He looked at Ruben and his eyes said "you big p*%$y."</p>
<p>Today I finally realized what I've been missing with Ruben Amaro and his tenure as a GM. Rubens tragic flaw isn't his inability to gauge low level cheap talent, or his penchant for trading young prospects, or his indecisiveness regarding high profile players to trade for and trade back and resign or trade and trade again, or his sheer smugness when it comes to grasping the future.</p>
<p>No. Ruben Amaro problem is that he lacks the basic tenant of leadership. He has no integrity. He isn't a real leader. He cares about his job more than he cares about doing his job right, and because of that he's scared to say no to his boss. It was self evident today.</p>
<p>There should be no sword to fall on.</p>
<p>A good leader doesn't have coffee for a week to talk to Charlie, skirting around the subject in the feeble hopes that the man will cave. You know why? Cause a good leader tells David Montgomery that Charlie didn't construct this team, he did, and if Charlie goes, so does he.</p>
<p>A good leader knows WHEN TO MAKE A STAND.</p>
<p>And when Montgomery comes back and tries to call his bluff he walks out and bluffs back. With Integrity. And he makes his line in the sand. And a good leader tells him that the decision comes in 42 days. Not now. But a good leader doesn't let his manager take the fall like this.</p>
<p>Especially when he knows its his fault, not his manager's.</p>
<p>Those tears today? Those weren't tears of sadness, or tears of pain.</p>
<p>That was guilt. He didn't want this, but he didn't fight for it.</p>
<p>Shame on you David Montgomery. and Shame on you Ruben.</p>
<p>And the saddest part of all is that this man doesn't seem to even realize that by giving in to this, by letting Charlie go NOW, and not in October, All the blame, all the articles, all the vitriol of the fan base will rain upon Ruben Amaro's head like frogs in an apocalypse for the rest of the season, into October, and the job he cares so much about will be gone.</p>
<p>Integrity has a way of sneaking back and biting you when you ignore it.</p>
<p>We talk a lot about Pat Gillick and what he would have done different than Ruben. With this I'm fairly certain I know exactly what Pat would have done.</p>
<p>Pat Gillick would have told the ownership group to go f&*k themselves.</p>
<p>so hey, David Montogomery, on behalf of Pat Gillick and the rest of the fans with integrity? Go F*&k yourself.</p>
<p>Catz out.</p>
https://www.thegoodphight.com/2013/8/16/4629752/catz-corner-on-charlie-ruben-and-integrityJoecatz2013-08-16T15:51:17-04:002013-08-16T15:51:17-04:00Charlie Manuel's Wins
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<img alt="Showin' 'em how it's done." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MZwpLyPPEEMH5FocJqrwQK_5PGs=/5x0:3993x2659/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/17979087/20130313_jla_sv7_263.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Showin' 'em how it's done. | USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Charlie Manuel won 780 wins for the Phillies. Did you know that was the most in the NL over the time he was manager? That, and other fun facts about Charlie's reign.</p> <p>There's so much to say about Charlie Manuel's time as manager of the <a href="https://www.thegoodphight.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Phillies</a>. Here, I'll just focus on his wins. We all know he now has 1000 wins in his career, 780 of them for the Phillies.</p>
<p>But did you know that those 780 wins are the most in the NL since Manuel started in 2005? And fourth in the majors? That may sound unbelievable given the .500 year in 2012 and the horrible play this year, but the Phillies under Manuel were so good from 2005 through 2011 that the subsequent two down years didn't change the team's spot in the NL.</p>
<p>Here are the top 10 teams since 2005:</p>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="128" style="border-collapse: collapse; width: 96pt;">
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<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" width="64" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 48pt;">NYY</td>
<td align="right" width="64" style="width: 48pt;">827</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">BOS</td>
<td align="right">787</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">LAA</td>
<td align="right">784</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">PHI</td>
<td align="right">780</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">STL</td>
<td align="right">771</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">ATL</td>
<td align="right">759</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">DET</td>
<td align="right">749</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">TEX</td>
<td align="right">749</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">LAD</td>
<td align="right">738</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">CHW</td>
<td align="right">727</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p>So Manuel's Phillies have been the best in the NL over his time at the helm. How about over Phillies history? I'll throw out this year because it's still not in the books, but how does his eight year reign from 2005 to 2012 compare to other 8 year segments in Phillies history?</p>
<p>It shouldn't be a surprise to say that Manuel's 8 full years are the best in Phillies history. Over the course of 2005 through 2012, the Phillies averaged 90.9 wins per year. (One other 8 year stretch is better, but that's from 2004 to 2011, so it's hard to count that since it has 7 overlapping years, all Manuel's.) The only other independent 8 year stretch that is even close is 1976 through 1983. Over those 8 years, the Phillies averaged 88.1 wins per season.</p>
<p>Here are the top 5 independent 8 year stretches for the Phillies:</p>
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<td height="20" width="64" style="height: 15.0pt; width: 48pt;">2005-2012</td>
<td align="right" width="64" style="width: 48pt;">90.9</td>
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<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">1976-1983</td>
<td align="right">88.1</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">1909-1917</td>
<td align="right">82.5</td>
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<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">1962-1968</td>
<td align="right">81.6</td>
</tr>
<tr height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">
<td height="20" style="height: 15.0pt;">1948-1956</td>
<td align="right">79.8</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p>How about Charlie's peak with the Phillies? That's also the best in Phillies history. The peak for Charlie were the five consecutive playoff years - 2007 to 2011. Over those five years, Charlie's Phillies averaged an incredible 94.6 wins per season. That's an amazing run. Not surprisingly, the team had one other 5 year run that compared, from 1976 to 1980. But over those five years, the Phillies averaged over 1 less win per season - 93.4.</p>
<p>Here are the top 5 independent 5 year stretches for the Phillies:</p>
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<colgroup><col style="width: 48pt;" span="2" width="64"></colgroup>
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt; width: 48pt;" width="64" height="20">2007-2011</td>
<td style="width: 48pt;" width="64" align="right">94.6</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">1976-1980</td>
<td align="right">93.4</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">1963-1967</td>
<td align="right">86.6</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">1913-1917</td>
<td align="right" class="xl65">86.0</td>
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<tr style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">
<td style="height: 15.0pt;" height="20">2001-2005</td>
<td align="right">85.2</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
<p> </p>
<p>There's no two ways about it. Charlie Manuel was the best manager the Phillies ever had. His teams won the most games in the NL over the course of his time as manager. His complete 8 year stretch was the best in Phillies history. And his peak five years were the best in Phillies history.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.thegoodphight.com/2013/8/16/4628688/thank-you-charlie">Thank you Charlie.</a></p>
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https://www.thegoodphight.com/2013/8/16/4628954/charlie-manuels-winsDavid S. Cohen2013-08-16T15:12:11-04:002013-08-16T15:12:11-04:00Charlie Manuel No Longer Phillies Manager
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<figcaption>Elsa</figcaption>
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<p>It's the end of an era. Charlie Manuel is no longer the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.</p> <p>Charlie Manuel is no longer the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.</p>
<p>That is a very strange thing to type.</p>
<p>The Phillies, not wanting to drag things out, told Manuel a day and a half ago that his contract would not be renewed for next year. <a href="https://twitter.com/JSalisburyCSN/status/368448029847986176" target="_blank">So he was essentially being fired once October rolled around.</a> Manuel made it clear during the press conference that he did not resign and did not quit. It seems like he decided that he would recognize his firing now as opposed to when the season concluded in October. Ryne Sandberg has been named the interim manager. Wally Joyner, the assistant hitting coach, will coach first base. Juan Samuel will move from coaching first to coaching third.</p>
<p>While making the announcement, Ruben Amaro choked up and was clearly holding back tears. At that point, I couldn't hold back the tears either. It's the end of an era. Charlie Manuel was sharp, honest, and good natured during the press conference. In other words, he was thoroughly himself. <a href="https://twitter.com/ToddZolecki/status/368439895372886016" target="_blank">Manuel has been asked to remain in the organization,</a> but has not made a decision about his future yet.</p>
<p>There are still a number of questions that remain unanswered, such as who this directive came from. Ruben Amaro himself? The faceless ownership group? Regardless of how it happened or who it came from, it doesn't change the facts. Charlie Manuel presided over one of, if not *the* most successful era in the history of the Philadelphia Phillies. He's the best manager the Phillies have ever had. He led the Phillies to five straight postseasons. He led them to a World Series win. He won more games with the Phillies than any other manager -- 780. He loves baseball, and it shows in everything he does. He talks about it like he's an excited kid, like it's full of magic and wonder.</p>
<p>Thank you, Charlie. Thank you for 2008. Thank you for the best World Series speech we've ever heard. Thank you for your honest, entertaining press conferences. Thank you for threatening to beat up Howard Eskin. Thank you for giving your time and talent to the Phillies, and to the fans.</p>
<p>Thank you for everything, Charlie. We'll miss you.</p>
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https://www.thegoodphight.com/2013/8/16/4628756/charlie-manuel-steps-aside-as-phillies-managerLiz Roscher2013-08-16T14:07:28-04:002013-08-16T14:07:28-04:00Thank You Charlie
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<img alt="Thank you." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/DPEH0cnDADKN2wgd5x56pGeJFxM=/3x0:3996x2662/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/17973445/20130813_kdl_al3_033.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Thank you. | Kevin Liles-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
</figure>
<p>Thanks.</p> <p>Thanks Charlie. We'll never forget you.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3066233/2008_Philadelphia_Phillies_World_Series_Victory_FtOEhBcQN1gl.jpg"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3066233/2008_Philadelphia_Phillies_World_Series_Victory_FtOEhBcQN1gl_medium.jpg" class="photo" alt="2008_philadelphia_phillies_world_series_victory_ftoehbcqn1gl_medium"></a> <a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3066241/6478413_600x338.jpg"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3066241/6478413_600x338_medium.jpg" class="photo" alt="6478413_600x338_medium"></a> <a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3066249/article-0-024B685E000005DC-107_306x358.jpg"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3066249/article-0-024B685E000005DC-107_306x358_medium.jpg" class="photo" alt="Article-0-024b685e000005dc-107_306x358_medium"></a> <a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3066257/large_charlie_manuel.JPG"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3066257/large_charlie_manuel_medium.JPG" class="photo" alt="Large_charlie_manuel_medium"></a> <a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3066265/manuel-phillies-08series-vert-apjpg-f0d545956abe5075.jpg"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3066265/manuel-phillies-08series-vert-apjpg-f0d545956abe5075_medium.jpg" class="photo" alt="Manuel-phillies-08series-vert-apjpg-f0d545956abe5075_medium"></a> <br id="1376676426025"><a target="_blank" href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3066225/6b97b85c980a5288b338f81c9f007b9c_m.jpg"><img src="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/3066225/6b97b85c980a5288b338f81c9f007b9c_m_medium.jpg" class="photo" alt="6b97b85c980a5288b338f81c9f007b9c_m_medium"></a> <br id="1376676350703"></p>
https://www.thegoodphight.com/2013/8/16/4628688/thank-you-charlieDavid S. Cohen