Good for Charlie Manuel.
He gets second-guessed for his strategy. He gets mocked for some of his country-bumpkin mannerisms. They even make fun of the way he talks and the way he sometimes mangles the language.
But you’ll never hear his players say a bad word about him. And last night’s win over the Astros provided a perfect example why.
The Phillies were about to put the finishing touches on their third straight National League East crown. By the way, if you don’t think there is a connection between the players’ feelings for Manuel and those three titles, you can stop reading now. You obviously don’t get it.
Scott Eyre had been summoned to get three outs in the ninth to slam the door and put the icing on a 10-3 Phils win, popping the corks on all those champagne bottles that have been awaiting the clincher.
But Manuel had one more move left to make.
With two outs, Charlie made the slow walk to the mound. Then he summoned Brad Lidge.
Last year Lidge was “Lights Out,” going a perfect 48 for 48 in save opportunities. This year he’s been “Lights Off,” racking up no less than
11 blown saves.
It would be easy to simply throw dirt on Lidge and move on. That’s what most of the fans have done. Last year is history. What have you done for us lately? In Lidge’s case, provide agita, for the most part.
But that’s not Manuel’s way. He called on Lidge last night, and the fans responded with a standing ovation.
Lidge secured the final out on a grounder to first, then took in the adulation of another sold-out Citizens Bank Park throng.
I suppose you can question some of Manuel’s strategy. Hell, I’ve already heard some people trying to figure out just what he was doing with Lidge last night.
What he was doing was being a decent human being. And thanking a guy who carried this team to a World Series Championship on his back last year.
A lot of people seem to have forgotten that. Charlie Manuel hasn’t.
I don’t know who Manuel’s closer for the playoffs is going to be.
I do know this. He’s a class act.
And he proved it again last night.
He gets second-guessed for his strategy. He gets mocked for some of his country-bumpkin mannerisms. They even make fun of the way he talks and the way he sometimes mangles the language.
But you’ll never hear his players say a bad word about him. And last night’s win over the Astros provided a perfect example why.
The Phillies were about to put the finishing touches on their third straight National League East crown. By the way, if you don’t think there is a connection between the players’ feelings for Manuel and those three titles, you can stop reading now. You obviously don’t get it.
Scott Eyre had been summoned to get three outs in the ninth to slam the door and put the icing on a 10-3 Phils win, popping the corks on all those champagne bottles that have been awaiting the clincher.
But Manuel had one more move left to make.
With two outs, Charlie made the slow walk to the mound. Then he summoned Brad Lidge.
Last year Lidge was “Lights Out,” going a perfect 48 for 48 in save opportunities. This year he’s been “Lights Off,” racking up no less than
11 blown saves.
It would be easy to simply throw dirt on Lidge and move on. That’s what most of the fans have done. Last year is history. What have you done for us lately? In Lidge’s case, provide agita, for the most part.
But that’s not Manuel’s way. He called on Lidge last night, and the fans responded with a standing ovation.
Lidge secured the final out on a grounder to first, then took in the adulation of another sold-out Citizens Bank Park throng.
I suppose you can question some of Manuel’s strategy. Hell, I’ve already heard some people trying to figure out just what he was doing with Lidge last night.
What he was doing was being a decent human being. And thanking a guy who carried this team to a World Series Championship on his back last year.
A lot of people seem to have forgotten that. Charlie Manuel hasn’t.
I don’t know who Manuel’s closer for the playoffs is going to be.
I do know this. He’s a class act.
And he proved it again last night.
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