Baseball Musings (Free subscription) | 08/27/2008
The Mets and Phillies go thirteen innings. Shane Victorino leads off the bottom of the 13th with a triple. Jerry Manuel then has Scott Schoeneweis issue two intentional walks to get to the pitcher's slot. Charlie Manuel is out of...
crashburnalley.com (Free subscription) | 08/27/2008
Charlie Manuel just put Carlos Ruiz at third base in the ninth inning of tonight’s game against the New York Mets. Like, defensively. Box score, a.k.a. proof that it actually happened. I just have to ask Charlie Manuel, “Uh, what'” Eric Bruntlett, a utility infielder, hasn’t been used yet. 4-5-6 hitters due up in the ninth, Brad Lidge/pinch-hitter [...]
Philadelphia Inquirer (Free subscription) | 08/26/2008
There is no question the Phillies were looking forward to the return of third baseman Pedro Feliz as his final days on the disabled list passed. Nevertheless, manager Charlie Manuel has been judicious with his use of Feliz since the club activated him last Wednesday.
Philadelphia Inquirer (Free subscription) | 08/24/2008
The latest lineup change coming from the locker-room laboratory of Phillies manager Charlie Manuel at the start of his team's series against the Los Angeles Dodgers found Pat Burrell hitting third, a rare spot for him lately.
The Good Phight (Free subscription) | 08/21/2008
“We gon’ hit,” Charlie Manuel reassured earlier this season, as the Phillies seemed to be temporarily underachieving. I concurred, and had a few things to say myself on the matter*: http://www.thegoodphight.com/2008/7/9/567725/phillies-team-babip http://www.thegoodphight.com/2008/7/14/571275/phillies-hitters-babips-mo Yes, it seemed inevitable that the Phillies would turn themselves around. In the...
Foul Balls (Free subscription) | 08/18/2008
The Philadelphia Phillies have one of the best ERA's in the National League at 3.96, and that's a good thing because they've really needed it lately. As the Phils fight with the Mets and Marlins for control of the NL East, their bats have gone dormant over the last month. Since July 13th the Phillies are hitting .236 as a team and as you'd expect, they're having trouble putting up runs
Philadelphia Inquirer (Free subscription) | 08/18/2008
SAN DIEGO - For the better part of the last month, Charlie Manuel has faced a bit of a quandary when filling out his lineup card each day. With regular third baseman Pedro Feliz on the disabled list with a bulging disc in his back, his options to fill the spot have been Greg Dobbs and Eric Bruntlett. Both players have their respective strengths, but neither offers the complete package of skills that...
Philadelphia Inquirer (Free subscription) | 08/14/2008
LOS ANGELES - Everyone knows the story of Wally Pipp, and Shane Victorino is likely one of them, so when manager Charlie Manuel asked him after batting practice on Tuesday if he felt well enough to play, his answer was a foregone conclusion.
The Electric Commentary (Free subscription) | 08/11/2008
Charlie Manuel thinks that Phillies closer Brad Lidge may have been hurt in the All-Star game, as he was asked to warm up 6 times and reportedly threw over 100 pitches. This is insane, and Manuel is right to be pissed off. However, if there's one thing we know about ESPN commentator and former Mets GM Steve Phillips, it's that he can be counted on to make an idiot out of himself even when the facts...
Can't Stop the Bleeding (Free subscription) | 08/10/2008
In what was a display of competitive desire or selfish immaturity, Phillies pitcher Brett Myers (above) took umbrage took over being lifted in the 8th inning of the Phillies 4-2 victory over the Pirates and manager Charlie Manuel was having none of it. From the Philadelphia Inquirer: Myers pitched the third consecutive strong outing by [...]
Beale Street Beat (Free subscription) | 08/10/2008
Citizens Bank Park | 7:05 | Snell vs. Brett Myers | Box Brett Myers looked strong, allowing just one run in 7-2/3 innings of work. When manager Charlie Manuel pulled him, Myers had some harsh words for his skipper in the dugout. He had allowed just five hits and a walk. Ian Snell allowed just two [...]
Beerleaguer (Free subscription) | 08/08/2008
The Phils were shut out for the seventh time this season and managed just four earned runs in their series with Florida, if you take away Shane Victorino’s foul ball homer on Tuesday night. Minor changes should be made. For Charlie Manuel, answers haven’t come easy for his struggling offense. The sit back and wait approach hasn’t worked, so in the meantime, perhaps it’s time to maximize his production...
Philadelphia Inquirer (Free subscription) | 08/07/2008
Charlie Manuel scanned the box score in front of him tonight at Citizens Bank Park and liked what he saw.
Swing and a Miss (Free subscription) | 08/04/2008
Charlie Manuel has this habit of giving a player the day off only to summon him mid-game to pinch-hit. Thank goodness. Last night's beneficiary of a partial day off was Shane Victorino, who'd been hot as a fire cracker until an 0-for Saturday night. So what does Shane do on his day off? Pinch hits, what else! The first time he rode a fly ball deep to left center with men on. The next time he rode the...
Philadelphia Inquirer (Free subscription) | 08/02/2008
ST. LOUIS - Charlie Manuel isn't sure whether veteran righthander Rudy Seanez hurt himself lunging to tag Nationals outfielder Lastings Milledge in the ninth inning Thursday night in Washington.
