On my way to Fort Lauderdale for this weekend's games against the Marlins, so I have to make this quick:First, the Phillies have obtained RHP Francisco Rosario from the Blue Jays for cash. Rosario, a former top prospect, is a hard-thrower who has had control problems in his brief big-league career. But he has nothing but upside, so it appears to be a low-risk, high-reward kind of move for the Phillies. Dallas Green scouted him during the final week of spring training, and when the Jays sent Rosario to the minors before Monday's season-opener, it became only a matter of time before the Phillies worked out a deal to get him. Not sure yet how he's going to be used, but regardless, can he really be any worse than Ryan Madson or Tom Gordon have been so far? Right now, the Phillies' bullpen can use all the arms it can get.
Also, judging from the comments on my game story from last night (keep 'em coming, by the way), people want to blame Charlie Manuel (above) for the first two losses. Personally, I don't see the logic there. I thought he managed a good game Wednesday night. He stuck with Cole Hamels for as long as he could, brought in Matt Smith in the eighth to keep dangerous left-handed hitters Ryan Langerhans and Scott Thorman on the bench, and put the game in Gordon's hands in the ninth inning. Can't ask for much more than that from Charlie.
More later.
9 comments:
How can you be the beat writer if you're on your way to Florida while the Phillies are playing the Braves right now. Leaving the ballpark a bit early? You're supposed to be covering these losers
I got him covered today, Trina. The man needs a day off once in a while (although he's still blogging like a madman)...As for how they're going to use Rosario, here's Gillick's quote: "I don’t use him. I just supply them and [Manuel and coaches] use them as they wish." It's safe to say that he's not going to be the setup man.
I would agree, there is little that you can blame Charlie for in terms of in-game moves. Maybe you blame him for the poor play on the field, for the players maybe not being prepared, but in the end, thats a stretch too.
Starting off a season with another pratfall inevitably puts a bull's eye on the manager.
I do blame Charlie for Victorino not knowing what a boneheaded play it was to try and steal third late in the game. Baserunning was a sore spot resulting in a big coaching turnover and there was tons of press about Lopes helping the flying hawaiian and others. Not to harp too much, but if Vic stays put, Howard is walked and Utley's double scores Vic. Howard gets held at 3d because less desperation to gamble for the insurance run and there are runners at 2d and 3d with one out instead of inning over.
The only reason everyone jumps on Manuel's back is because they can't form their own opinion. They listen to WIP and the idiots on there tell them that they should rip him because his head twitches when he goes to the mound and he talks with a southern drawl and says like as much as a teenage girl.
Charlie is a baseball man through and through. He can't hit or pitch. Haven't heard him say this, but I'm guessing Victorino didn't play today because of the horrendous decision he made yesterday. Manuel is an average manager. He'll lose you some games and win you some games, it all evens out.
The guy who disappoints me more is Gillick. He's always so nonchalant and pushes everything to Manuel. Look at his quote about Rosario today, "It's not my decision on where he pitches." You're the GM, you should have an idea, right? His holier than thou attitude rubs me the wrong way. I can't wait until he's gone and Ruben "the total package" Amaro, Jr. takes over.
While I generally agree that a manager can be blamed for his team's poor fundamentals, it's hard to fault Manuel for a brain-cramp by Shane Victorino. It's not like he crawled into Victorino's head and made him attempt to steal third in the eighth inning with Howard at the plate and Utley on deck Wednesday night. While it's true that the Phillies have tried to get Victorino to be more aggressive on the bases, he has to be smarter than that.
Thanks, Trina. Slacker is one thing I've never been called.
Ed: Thanks for chiming in. That's a great comment about Charlie. I've often believed that Charlie would receive far less criticism in Philly if he didn't have such a distinct drawl.
For what it's worth, Charlie said Victorino was benched today because he's been nursing a stiff back, not because of his baserunning blunder. I suppose we have to take him at his word.
One other thing about Victorino stealing third. Manuel said he could have given the third-base coach the hold sign for Victorino, but he didn't because he didn't think Victorino would be thinking of running. He then added this quote about not stealing third with your big hitters coming up. "I learned that in high school, before I signed to play pro ball."
I should add, and I'm pretty sure Scott can back me up on this, this is probably the first time Chuck criticized one of his players publicly because it was such a boneheaded mistake.
It wasn't the first time, but since I've been covering the Phillies, it was only the second or third. Charlie rarely criticizes his players publicly. In fact, his normal response when a reporter asks about a bad play or pitch is, "You saw it." So, yes, for Charlie to be so vocal about Victorino's mistake was rather shocking.
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