Because of Charlie Manuel
September 27, 2007
| By Ron Costello
| 
Discuss
4 left.
- One game behind the Mets in the NL East
- One game behind San Diego in the NL Wild Card (but tied with Colorado, both teams a game out)
- Last night a 5-2 win over Atlanta
- Tonight, vs Atlanta, Kyle Kendrick vs John Smoltz
The Phillies will win the National League East because of two words: Charlie Manuel.
Take last night's game for example. After getting ripped by Atlanta Tuesday night 10-6, the Phillies came back last night and won 5-2.
The team looked relaxed, not uptight. Charlie doesn't panic. He doesn't make faces in the dugout when somebody screws up, i.e., Larry Bowa.
In fact, Charlie is the opposite of Larry Bowa, who will never win as a manager because he puts pressure on his players.
How many times have you seen Bowa, with arms crossed, rolling his eyes and shaking his head when a Phillie struck out, or made an error? You will never see Charlie Manuel do that. That kind of stuff is BS when you are the manager.
The Phillies love Manuel, especially their franchise player, Chase Utley. They respect him and they loved the way he stood up to 610 radio guy Howard Eskin. Sure, I've poked fun at him, but like the players, I respect him as a manager. I just think he needs to start an exercise program.
Besides, the Mets are imploding right before our eyes. Remember 1964? The Mets will remember 2007, the year they gave the NL East over to the Phillies.
We have tickets Sunday, the last game of the season. We also have tickets for the Vendemmia Festival in South Philly, from 2 until 6 p.m. Unless the game is changed to accommodate Sunday Night Baseball, it will begin at 1:30. Maybe, just maybe, we can do both.
You can bet that we'll be there Sunday to see the NL East winning Phillies.
