Though Charlie Manuel will return to manage the Phillies in 2013, Triple-A manager Ryne Sandberg appears to be a “nearly sure bet” to succeed Manuel at some point, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com writes. Here are the details on the Phillies from Heyman…
- The Phillies are impressed by Sandberg’s work in the minor leagues, but the 68-year-old Manuel is under contract for 2013. Some insiders say some people in the Phillies organization have been advocating for Sandberg since before the 2011 season. Amaro dismissed that notion, but praised Sandberg. "He's been great. He's done a nice job for us," Amaro said. However, there’s probably “nothing to be done” if another organization looks to hire Sandberg this coming offseason.
- Amaro told Heyman the Phillies aren’t trading Juan Pierre. The Orioles are interested in Pierre, but Philadelphia is just 5.0 games out of the Wild Card race so they are not inclined to make a trade.
Cardinals are going to get Mets’ed/Braves’ed
I don’t think they have had a lead of more than 1.5 games all year. The team hasnt been any better than slightly above average all year. It hasn’t been a collapse, just not a great team. We shall see what happens in the last 21 games.
I hope to see Ryno in the Bucs dugout in 2013.
Because Juan Pierre would be the reason the Phils (or O’s for that matter) go to the playoffs…….
Sarcasm
Why make yourself worse?
he actually has played very well and considering he only makes 800k for a 310 average and 35 out of 42 sb he has done his job and i actually wouldnt mind bringing him back next year if i was the phillies.
It’s ridiculous how close this team came to winning 10-11 games in a row. That meltdown in Atlanta and that horrible call in Cincinnati… wow.
Regardless of whether they come up short or they sneak into the playoffs, this is the most fun I’ve had watching them since the NLDS last year. Given the state of the team at the trading deadline, to put themselves in the conversation is a testament to the character of the guys in the clubhouse and the manager as well. (despite what you’d hear on talk radio).
It’s reminiscent of ’06 after they traded Abreu and Lidle. Went 49-55 through the deadline, then 36-22 the rest of the way – finished 3 GB of LAD for the Wild Card.
This year they were 46-57 through the deadline and 24-14 since.
I think back to those two games, too, and it’s going to eat me alive if they finish a game out of a WC spot.
In classic Ruben Amaro Jr. style Sandberg will leave to manage a major league team after this season and soon after he will fire Manuel. Afterwards he will make excuses for not retaining Sandberg and letting Manuel go when he had a chance.