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Phillies Fire Manuel; Name Ryne Sandberg Interim Manager
1:40pm: General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said at today's press conference that Manuel has been asked to remain in the organization in a different capacity (via MLB.com's Todd Zolecki on Twitter).
1:29pm: The Phillies have officially announced that Sandberg will move from third base coach to interim manager. First base coach Juan Samuel will become the third base coach, and assistant hitting coach Wally Joyner will become the team's new first base coach.
1:03pm: Sandberg is the new Phillies manager, according to Danny Knobler of CBS Sports (on Twitter).
12:58pm: Ryne Sandberg is the most likely candidate to replace Manuel on an interim basis through the end of the season, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.
12:41pm: The Phillies have called a press conference today that is scheduled for 2:30 ET, and Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly reports that the team will announce a new manager (Twitter link).
Charlie Manuel has been managing the Phillies since the beginning of the 2005 season, during which time the team has posted a record of 780-636. From 2007-11, the Phils won five straight division titles under Manuel, and in 2008 they captured a World Series title. The Phillies returned to the Fall Classic in 2009, though they were denied a repeat championship by the Yankees.
Manuel built up an impressive track record as a manager in the minor leagues in the 80s and 90s before taking over as the Indians' hitting coach in the mid- to late-90s. He became the club's manager in 2000 and led the Tribe to an AL Central Division Championship in 2001. In parts of 12 seasons as a big league manager, Manuel has tallied exactly 1,000 victories against 826 losses.
Among current Major League managers, only the Twins' Ron Gardenhire and the Angels' Mike Scioscia have longer tenures than Manuel had with the Phillies until today.
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