Ryne Sandberg deserved better.
From Pat Gillick.
From Ruben Amaro Jr.
And from his team, in particular Chase Utley.
Sandberg fell on his sword Friday, announcing he was resigning as manager of the Phillies. No doubt before the team had a chance to fire him.
Sandberg had a Hall of Fame career, one that could have been spent as a Phillie but instead came in the uniform of the Chicago Cubs after one of the most infamous trades in team history.
Let's just say no one is reserving a spot on Cooperstown for him for his short-lived stint as skipper of the Phillies.
That does not excuse what the Phillies did to him.
Saddled with a lineup that was as dour as Sandberg's demeanor, the team quickly sank to the bottom of the standings.
The losing - and likely the way the team was losing - became too much for a proud baseball guy like Sandberg.
Rumors are flying that the Phillies this week will bring in Andy MacPhail to take over baseball operations. It's likely Sandberg decided to step down before the team could fire him.
His laid-back, reserved personality was not a great fit for this team - nor this passionate fan base.
But it still does not excuse what happened to him.
Chase Utley showed up his manager by going ballistic on the mound when outfield Jeff Francoeur was hung out to dry as an emergency pitcher. Then a couple of days later, Sandberg clearly was taken by surprise with the news that Utley was going on the disabled list with a balky ankle.
It was pretty clear Sandberg had lost Utley, and thus the locker room.
That on a team that could win less than 50 games.
No one likely will shed a tear over Sandberg's exit, as opposed to the reaction when Charlie Manuel packed his Wawa bag and was seen sadly sauntering out of Citizens Bank Park.
Sandberg deserved better.
Comments