Is Charlie Manuel Doing A Good Job?
BREAKING NEWS, News, Phillies Monday, June 11th, 2012
We are about 40% through the baseball season. This is about the time where it’s just not a bad start anymore, and your team may have some problems.
Locally, the big question is will the Phillies be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline ? As of today they sit in the basement of the N.L. East, seven games behind the Washington Nationals. But even more important, they are behind three other teams.
I understand everyone wants action, but the first thing you have to do is identify the problem. Someone said this week “How are they expected to win playing subs every night? How can you win with guys like Luna, Orr, and Fontenot playing?”
Let me tell you about another team. This team has injuries as well. Yesterday their line up had names like Herrera, Rivera, Ellis, and Castellanos. Looks more like your co-ed intramural team that played Jimmy Wong’s sushi shack this week. But this team is 38-22, and leads their division. Part of the reason they are succeeding is they have a manager that understands situational baseball, and puts his team in a position to win more often.
That team is the Los Angeles Dodgers, and that manager is Don Mattingly. Charlie Manuel is a lovable guy. He has decades of experience in the game. He was as popular as Godzilla and David Hasselhoff when he played in Japan. He is admired by his players. All that being said, why does that mean he is the best man for the job? Why does that mean that he is more qualified then you or I? Because he has been around the game longer? All that experience didn’t teach him after the seventh inning in a tie game when the lead off man gets on second, you should consider bunting him over to third base?
The Phillies also have a lead-off hitter that should be hitting eighth. Manuel lets his personal feelings get in the way of a baseball decision that should have seen this done two years ago. Rollin’s .244 average this year is one thing, but it’s the .292 On-base percentage that has me scratching my head. What is it going to take for this manager to make this move to improve this team?
Over the last three years Rollins has a .251 Batting average with a .313 on-base percentage, one of the lowest in baseball. Sure injuries have played a huge role in the team’s current demise . I could go back and pull out at least four games that were decided by situations that shouldn’t have happened if the team was better coached. I like Charlie Manuel but he has to go. If you are blaming injuries on this year, what is the excuse for the past three years ? Arguably one of the top 20 teams talent wise ever assembled with a top five pitching staff, the team has been on a steady decline since 2008.
Everyone remembers 2008, the year we didn’t have any $20 Million dollar a year players. We have just added expensive pieces when other teams rebuild. In fact Texas has lost their number one starter to free agency each of the last three years yet has got better . Also could the Cole Hamels situation be handled any worse?
Cole Hamels is the biggest reason that we have our world championship. He’s 28 years old. Give him his seven-year deal and build around him. Do not let him walk because you made one of the biggest mistakes in MLB history giving Ryan Howard his contract.
From a national perspective I can’t forget listening to ESPN a month ago and hearing their baseball “experts” say the Angels were finished. At the time they were eight games out of the lead. It was the beginning of May. These guys are experts? Eight games has been made up in three weeks, just look at our beloved Phillies a few years back. I take what goes to print very serious. I want to be the best at what I do no matter what it is. I put my time in. I form my own opinions and I make sure they came from an educated stance. ESPN is one of the channels I watch. But for those of you who are hard core baseball people like myself the MLB network does a great job at covering the game. I won’t change my World Series prediction like most. I’m sticking by my original Giants-Angels call. Neither team is in first place, but I think both still have the capability to win. If you take out the teams currently leading their divisions, St. Louis, San Francisco and Atlanta look like they still could make a run. All have good pitching and have decent lineups.
Current MVP Leaders
National League: Joey Votto, .362 BA .484 On base % .643 Slugging % 10HR 38 RBI 26 2b
American League: Josh Hamilton, .338BA .395 On Base % .699 Slugging % 22 HR 59 RBI 13 2b
Current Cy Young Leaders
National League: Gio Gonzalez, 8-2 2.35 ERA
American League: David Price, 8-3 2.40 ERA
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Posted by Charles Bowles
on Jun 11 2012. Filed under BREAKING NEWS, News, Phillies.
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Pence is in his Prime and a porven everyday MLB Player, the Jury is still out on Mayberry though.. I believe when Victorino gets traded by Trade Dealine that Mayberry will play CF and Dom Brown will be called up to Play LF and when the Phils are facing tough Right-Handed PItchers, the Phils will Start Juan Pierre in LF & Dom Brown in Center and Mayberry will come in off the Bench
Brown seems to be responding since they moved him to CF. I would like to see him there with Mayberry/Pierre in LF.
Really what do they have to lose. 10 effin games out and the Nats just swept the Jays.
Right but they had to give Mayberry a shot based on his 100 games last year
I agree with that HAC. And this platooning with other players is not giving him a shot. He needs to play everyday. With Pierre hitting so well, it has to be at 1B.
I say bring up all the kids you want to take a look at. How much worse can they be than Fontenot, Wigginton and Thome (at this point in his career).
Nats are on fire and just wait until Mike Morse gets his swing back after missing the 1st 2months of the Season. They can keep young Bryce Harper up p and don’t even need Jason Werth any longer..
As I stated all off-Season, the Nats have the most talented 25 Man Roster in the NL East and are proably just a step below the Dodgers and Cardinals for overall talent in the NL…
Look at future seasons versis the NAts
1B – A LaRoche – 32 Yeasrs Old
2B – D Espinosa – 25 Years Old
SS – I Desmond – 26 Years Old
3B – R Zimmerman – 27 Years Old
C – W Ramos – 24 Years Old (out for Season)
C – J Flores – 26 Years Old (replaced Ramos as Primart Catcher)
LF – M Morse – 30 Years Old
CF – R Bernadina 28 years Old
RG – B Harper – 19 Years old
Reserve S Lombardozzi – 23 Years Old
Reserve R Ankiel 32 Years Old
Reserve X Nady 32 Years Old
Injured J Werth 33 Years Old
Starting PItchers
Steven Strasberg – 23 Years Old
Gio Gonzales – 26 Years Old (The Best Acquistion in the entire MLB las off-season)
Jordan Zimmerman – 26 Years Old
Ross Detweiler – 26 Years Old
Edwin Jackson – 28 Years Old
C-Ming Wang – 32 Years Old
Relief Pitchers
T Clippard – 27 Years Old
S Burnett – 29 Years Old
D Sotren – 24 Years Old (injured, one of Baseballs Best Closer’s))
C Stamman – 28 Years Old
T Gorzelanny – 29 Years Old
B Lidge – 35 Years Old (under a 1 year deal)
M Gonzales – 34 Years Old
H Rodriquez – 25 Years Old (Injured)
R Mattheus – 28 Years Old (Injured)
I would say their GM has done an excellent job of putting some Veteran Players around some young talent together with an agressive style of Managing led by Davy Johnson. The Nats are built to win not only for this Season but for futre Seasons.. Their up the middle players of Catcher Ramos, 2B Espinosa and SS Desmon may be the best threesome of young players in the middle of the IF in all of Baseball in my opinion who have barely scratched the surface.. It’s a shame that Catcher Ramos blew out his knee for he has a very bright future and reminds many of Catcher Molina from the Cardinals
Bottom line, the Nats will be a force for the Phillies to reckon with besides the usual Braves and upsrtart Marlins and Mets too..
Paulman, stugots with that breakdown, you sound like some nat fan, I have told you and will tell you again the nats will falter, but please no more have a cigar exchanges it spells doom
I have no strong feelings about the NAtionals, but I do like how they’ve gone out and put a quality roster together, I liked their free-agent signings to add quality Vetreans mixed in wtith their home grown talent.. remember the Phils used to do this.. too many of you so called hils Fans don’t follow the sport that closely outsdie of what the Phils are doing and believe,me there are lots of Teams are their way up and the NAtionals are oneo f them.. Phils Future (short-term and long-tem) does not look better tan a .500 Team.. Phils coule very well finish inthe basement and with a $175 Million Teamayroll… This is a joke, IF the Phils went on purge and salary cost deal, I could understand, but paying some of these players on their Roster the amount they are paying is assaine and no one held a gun to their heads and sya Pay Joe Blanton $10 Million per Season, or Jimmy Rollins $11 Million per season only to find out that they don’t want to pay the $$ to retain Hamels (whose fading by the way and realizes his future with the Phils is over and will most likley be average the rest of he Season)
HAC, I SAID GO LOOK AT ALL OF THEIR STATS SINCE 2005! Their stats are almost carbon copy. Pujols are better. Fielders are very similar. As for me being illiterate, I’ve forgotten more about sports & life, than you could ever hope to attain, SON! “SO GO GET YOUR F^#@ING SHINE BOX!” PLEASE STOP ALREADY, with your fact-less, baseless, ill-informed, idiotic defense, & pom-pom waving of this team & FO. YOU DO NOT KNOW OF WHAT YOU SPEAK! You’ve embarrassed yourself enough, quit before you bury yourself even more. YOU ARE WRONG! PERIOD!!! AMARO DID A BAD JOB!!! IT IS NOT DEFENSIBLE!!!! YOU ARE AN IDIOT! STFU ALREADY!!!!
jake, there is nothing worse than a stubborn, rock headed, pom-pom waving blind loyalist, like HAC! This dude just doesn’t get it! He needs to just STFU already. All of the spin, BS & excuses he is spewing, is completely ridiculous, & fact-less! He must be Amaro’s Nephew, or something. He fails to realize, that the 102 Wins last year, means Stugots, when you get bounced in the first round. That makes them one of the biggest disappointments, in the history of this city. Especially with all of the preseason hype & praise, that they have gotten prior to the season. That was a disgrace & embarrassment, & to go into this season, unprepared, & made even older & overpaid, is unforgivable. He did a piss poor job, & needs to be fired. Anyone that defends him, or anyone else in this organization, is a f^#@ing idiot. Sorry if the truth hurts, but this cycle, & Championship ERA is over & needs to be rebuilt ASAP, if we want to compete at a high level again!
Final NL East Standings for 2012
1) Nationals 91-71
2) Braves 88-74
3) Mets 83-77
4) Marlins 81-81
5) Phitn’ Phils 79-83
Car you idiot I said pulls is in a league by himself possibly best player ever! You can’t compare anyone with him! But he won’t be that great at 42 but you have to pay extraordinary talent. Paul as for the nationals they have done a great job but we do know that they overpaid for werth . It happens. You guys think no one else signs players long term.
And. At Blanton signed 3 years 24 mill that I’d average of 8 mill. Again you and paiul make stuff up
So geniuses the two best free agents this year are wright (if mets don’t pick up option) and Hamilton how much and how long would you sign them for
Fair point about Wright and Hamilton. Some team is going to overpay for these guys, because there is no one else out there.
To CIGAR
According to ESPN list of Phillie Salaries, Blanton is making $10,500,000 in 2012.. and no doubt the Nats overpaid for Werth, but when trying to change from a losing culture to a winning culture, some Teams will have to overpay initally to attract other good players..
A player I have really liked over the last 2 years who I wanted to Phils to pursure was Adam Jones of the Orioles who just signed a big extension with the Orioles for 6 years for $85 Million I believe, but again, Jones is just hitting his prime and is only 26 years old who is still improving
Form the Phils site:
Blanton will make $1 million in 2010, but he also receives a $6 million signing bonus. That will be paid in $3 million installments in June and October. Blanton will earn $8.5 million in ’11 and ’12. He also has escalator clauses, which states he will make $8.75 million in ’11 if he throws 200 innings in ’10, and $8.75 million in ’12 if he throws 200 innings in ’11.
Would have loved to have Jones in red pinstripes.
Paul, heed my advice, quit while your ahead, with that @$$clown. Save your breath. He’s a lost cause. He lacks the mental capacity, to see the truth, through the pinstripe glasses, that he wears. We both have tried to reason with him, with facts, truths & events that have & are taking place, but he is too deluded & close minded to understand! Don’t worry, REALITY will eventually fall on him like a ton bricks. He has the balls to call me an idiot, when he has been wrong on every single thing, he made a comment about. He’s a hopeless, pom-pom waving, blindly loyal, stepford, that can’t think reality, or be reasoned with.
Thnx for the info Bugs.. I just went to the ESPN Team Salaries for that $10.5 Figure. I guess either way you slice it.. Blanton is not worth 1/2 of his contract, I think we can all agree with this..
Absolutely agree.
Phils will have 118.5 Mil committed to: Lee, Doc, Howard, Utley, Paps, J-roll, Kendrick and Ruiz next season.
Pence has one more year of arb, but I think that they lock him up to stay. If they sign him to another arb type deal, he will probably make 10-12 mil next year.
Bastardo, Worley and Galvis are all making around 500k and these guys should be resigned. Savery/Stutes/Mayberry and Martinez are all making around 500k also.
Having Howard at 100% makes the lineup better with Pence/Howard at 3/4, but what are the moves to make this team better? Not much going on in FA, and nothing on the farm is gonna vastly improve the big club.
After 2013, they lose 20 million from Utley and Kendrick and possible 20 mil for Halladay from his vesting interest/option because he doesn’t pitch enough innings. $74 mill in contracts at that point excluding Pence, Ruiz and the other arb eligible guys.
bugs, thus more reasons, to add to the long list of reasons, that over the past 3 years, Amaro needed to add & infuse good, younger players, not ancient, overpaid, win now, players, with zero future, or upside.
If Hamels goes, other FA SPs:
Anibal Sanchez
Shawn Marcum
Zack Grienke
Ruiz is 33 Years Old and though he’s playing great ball, a younger Catcher needs to be developed and be ready by 2014..
Who could the Phils get in Return if they were to package both Hamels/Victorino let’s say to an AL Contending playoff team
(Detroit/Cleveland/White Sox/Red Sox/Orioles) … Maybe they could get 3 Top Prospects at Positions of Need plus some Bullpen arms and then attempt to re-sign Hamels once Free-Agency begins after the Season..
I believe Hames does want to return and play home, out on the West Coast and really has little interest in returning in Philadelphia.. He has seen the good and the bad with the local media, fans, bloggers,etc,etc and I think he’s ready to move back home..
Catcher is definitely a need.
I would have to look at those teams to put together some trade scenarios.
If they are gonna let these guys walk, then they have to trade them. Can’t let them go for nothing.
For Hamels, wouldn’t want to be paired with Kershaw? Not to mention Matt Kemp.
If Phils have come to the decision that they are not going to re-sign Hamels,
does anyone agree that it would be best to trade him and get some talent in return instead of losing him to Free-Agency.. Plus he could be dealt to an American League Team as opposed to being scooped up by the Dodgers who would probably scoop him up in Free-Agency.. (which could still happen)
Same with Victorino who will be looking at $10-$12 Million Deal ..
Greinke would get eaten alive by the Philly Media/Fans, he’s not mentally tough enough.. Marcum/Sanchez are not bad #3/#4 Pitchers..
If Doc & Lee don’t return close to their usual Top Form, it will be very difficult to return to the Top of NL East Division anytime soon
Paul, bugs, we need a young Catcher, 3b, 2b, LF & RF. We have Galvis to replace the pop-up king, once he is healthy, Pence will fine, Howard is an albatross, that we are stuck with, & we have some promising arms, in Worley, May, Biddle, Pettibone, Diekman, DeFratus & Aumont. I suggest-
1- Trade Victorino & Lee to Toronto, for C D’Arnauld, CF Rasmus, 3B/2B Lawrie, RP Carreno +
2- Thome to AL team for prospect.
3- Rollins, Blanton & Cash to Boston for Middlebrooks +
4- Trade/release Qualls, Martinez, & the rest of the afterberth on the 40 man roster.
Rebuilt with good young players.
Starters
1B Howard- 2B Lawrie- SS Galvis- 3B Middlebrooks- C Chooch- LF Mayberry/ Brown?- CF Rasmus- RF Pence.
Bench
C D’Arnauld- IF Wiggington- OF Nix- OF Piere- IF Fontenot- ?
Rotation
Halladay- Hamels- Worley- May- Kendrick
BP
Papelbon, Aumont, DeFratus, Carreno, Diekman, Bastardo, & longman.
Next year, re-sign Hamels & Pence, & give legit shots to Biddle & Pettibone. Then we still have $$$ to add an LF, if Brown/Mayberry still suck.
DCAR- I like how you are thinking except that May and Aumont are exactly lighting it up this year on the farm. I am all for bringing them up to see what they have, but they will need more pitching.
If they can get that trade from Toronto, you would have to do it.
No way Boston trades Middlebrooks especially for that slop. He is their 3B of the future.
bugsy, I hear ya, but sometimes minor leaguers hit a wall. Anyway, Aumont is just getting his arm back, after being hurt, the beginning of the year. May started off great, but his last 3 or so games where iffy. Both are future studs in waiting. IMHO, so is Biddle, DeFratus & Diekman. Can’t be no worse than Blanton, Kendrick, Qualls, Schwimmer, & the rest of the beer leaguers, we have. Middlebrooks might be a possibility if we send cash in return, because they can’t trade Youkalas. Amaro is an inept moron, so none of that will happen anyways. PIE IN THE SKY, MY BROTHER! LET’S HOPE. BTW, I read that Toronto rumor somewhere. Can’t remember if it was bleacher report, or somewhere else.
Dude, I am 100% behind bringing up all the kids. You may have a unique opportunity to see what you have. Bring Brown up too.
I remember that Toronto rumor. For them, I think it will come down to if they think they have a legit shot to get in this year or if they think that they can re-sign either Hamels or Victorino which I don’t think that they do.
no way, no how the phillies let Hamels walk, this is there best and only home grown pitching talent since I can’t remember, maybe Rick Wise for you old timers out there, if the phils ownership believes they are an elite franchise like the red sox, yanks, dodgers, then they must put uot, and they will, to prove it by signing their own stud pitcher, as I said before, this is not your father’s phillies, they have spent a lot of money, some of it foolishly by Amaro, but they are players
RE : 2013
I think it’s fair to say Phils are stuck with SS Rollins, now one is going to pick his Deal up at his age and productions levels which now means you play Galvis at 2B until ROllins Retires after 2014
This means you need some Power #’s at 1B,3B and Outfield Corners..
Phils have Howard and Pence for 2013 but need to fill 3B and LF
Blue Jays lost 2 PItchers in B Morrow (their best Pitcher) and Drabeck to injury, they have not played very good ball the last couple of weeks as they are sliding down and out of the running in the AL east so they may not end up as Buyers come Trade Time..
Jake, do you think the Phils would decide with having Doc,Lee and Hamels all in the Rotation and with all 3 making $20 Million + a Season for 2013 ???
I just don’t see them doing this.. I hope I am wronfg, $65 Million for 3 Pitchers… Yikes..
I see them trading Lee, an overrated pitcher, came up small agains the cardinals, inconsistent this year, not an ace, not worth the money
Not worth the money, then how are they going to trade him?
I could see Lee going back to Cleveland or to Detroit (of course he would have to waive his No-Trade Clause.. but why would anyone want to stay with a Team if you feel they don’t want you nay longer so I think he would waive the No-Trade Clause deal just to get out of town..
I am in favor of trading him to keep Hamels, but that is a tough contract to move.
I don’t think so bugsy, the yanks still covet him and he is still viewed as one of the top lefites in the game
Unfortunately scar you confuse facts with your OPINION
Jake, which is it? Is he overrated and not worth the money or is he viewed as one of the top lefties in the game by everyone but us and the Phils.
Busy don’t get pulled in the three of them make crap up, one minute a player is good the next they are overpaid… Jake actually said ‘the Phil’s have too much pitching’ dcat said 102 wins meant nothing… They GM without following rules they think top players will sign with them for 3 years
Neither Toronto or Boston would make those trades….no freaking way
And Paul jones was in baltimores control he wasn’t free agent eligible and they weren’t going to trade him so what’s your point?
That’s it bugs, we know better
HAC, the only thing confused, is your imbecilic brain. I’ve stated all facts, truths, information, & things that have already commenced, not given opinions, you dope! Other than to say they won 102 games, what good was it, rock-head? WE LOST IN THE FIRST SERIES! Go away, you clueless idiot & let the logical, reasonable fans talk. You have ZERO credibility, being a step-ford, FO excuse making, pom-pom waving, zombie!
you aren’t a fan… you are an armchair QB and those like you give philly fans a bad name. you are a bandwagon jumper, negative– to the best of my knowledge no philly coach, gm or most of the time player is any good–
i’m sure that when they were winning the 102 you were mr. philly fan– gave ruben NO credit for assembling that team. the minute they lose they are all bums. ridiculous– those things happen in sports and as a fan you roll with it, you get upset but you don’t look at all they’ve done and ignore it.
the Phillies are now 2-0 in my critical 23 game stretch ! here come the fightins
Ok Nev.We will be keeping count along with you..