Charlie Manuel makes out the Phillies' lineup, and for five of the past eight games, he hasn't included Pat Burrell (update: Burrell isn't playing again tonight, so it's six of the last nine games). That's notable since Burrell makes $13 million, a hefty sum for a bench player. Some media types wondered before yesterday's game if Phillies ownership would take exception to such a high-salaried player playing as infrequently as Burrell. Manuel cleared up any confusion."I can do anything I want to," he said. "Seriously, in this job, I can do anything I want to. That can cause a lot of stuff, but I can do what I want to do. I can, and I've got the [guts] to do whatever I want to do."
And why shouldn't he have the [guts]? Manuel is in the final year of his contract. If the Phils don't make the playoffs, he won't get an extension. Someone in his position can't worry about placating his bosses or Burrell. Manuel must field the lineup that gives the Phillies a best chance to win, and right now, Burrell isn't part of that lineup. It's as simple as that.
* Kyle Kendrick loves pitching for the Phillies.
* Jon Lieber hasn't decided yet, but surgery is probably in his future. Also within this notebook, tomorrow is a big day for Tom Gordon. Brett Myers is throwing bullpen sessions, not pitching in minor-league games, meaning a July 1 return is out of the question. Maybe by the All-Star break. Maybe.
* In this week's Sports Illustrated, players were asked to name the softest-tossing pitcher in the majors. Jamie Moyer got the most votes with 72 percent, well ahead of Tim Wakefield (14 percent), Greg Maddux (2 percent), Tom Glavine (2 percent) and Mike Maroth (2 percent). Interestingly, the Phillies inquired about trading for Maroth last week but decided he was too similar to Moyer. Maroth was dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals instead.
2 comments:
now THIS is a side of Charlie Manuel I LOVE. He's basically saying "I didn't sign this clown to a ridiculous deal, Ed Wade did, and you see where he is now." Charlie knows what's up, and the Phils have to still be playing well into October for him to be brought back. And Michael Bourn and Greg Dobbs getting more time is an absolute plus, if you put their numbers together, you get Pat Burrell, only with a better on base percentage and a chance to make things happen in Bourn and a flat out professional hitter in Dobbs. So somebody better get ol Pat the bat a sofa cushion. He'll be riding that pine for a while.
It's a simple solution for Pat the Bat: If you want to play start hitting the ball. Personally, I would find it embarassing that I was being paid 13 million a year to sit the bench. If this doesn't light a fire under his ass than nothing will.
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