Manuel gets another job ... really
Charlie Manuel getting hired to manage again after his uninspiring performance as the Indians manager is surprising -- until you see WHERE he was hired. Manuel now replaces Larry "Mr. Furious" Bowa as Phillies' manager.
Gee, I wonder if Jim Thome had any say on THAT decision.
I'm sure Manuel is a heck of a guy, and a great hitting coach. But I always thought he was lacking in game decisions. In an important pennant race, he pinch hit for Omar Vizquel with a runner on second and two out in the ninth, with the Indians down by a run.
This would be strange enough, but his choice for a pinch hitter was even stranger. Russell Branyan. Yes, THAT Russell Branyan. Branyan didn't come through (the story of his career) and the tribe lost the game and a shot at the playoffs.
Another time, he senselessly let C.C Sabathia, (a pitcher so slow he makes the apprehension of D.B Cooper look like an open and shut case)swing away with a 3-1 count and the bases loaded with one out. C.C hit into a bang-bang (sarcasm) double play. The Indians lost that game too.
But he IS like a father for Jim Thome.
Good luck Philadelphia.